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At 16, Charlie Woods T-2 At Junior PGA, Looks To Seal Ryder Cup Spot

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 14: Tiger Woods of the United States warms up in the practice area with his son Charlie Woods during the final round of the 2024 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 14, 2024 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Charlie Woods remained in a strong position Thursday to earn a spot on the U.S. Junior Ryder Cup team.

The 16-year-old son of Tiger Woods is tied for second place at the Junior PGA Championship after shooting a 5-under 66 in a rain-delayed third round at the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex’s Ackerman-Allen Course in West Lafayette, Indiana.

He stands at 12-under 202 for the week.

The players are vying for two automatic spots on the Junior Ryder Cup team, which will take on Team Europe from September 23-25 at Nassau Country Club and Bethpage Black in New York. There is also one captain’s pick, although Woods, who is ranked 20th in the latest American Junior Golf Association ranking, is unlikely to be selected for it.

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Woods has never competed in the event.

He said after his round that he is hoping to control his own destiny with a strong finish on Friday.

“It was so fun,” Woods said of his third round, according to the Lafayette Journal & Courier. “I had a pretty fun ship on 16, but I just enjoyed being out there, having fun, and hopefully I have a good chance of winning tomorrow.”

Woods endured a mixed round on Thursday. He had three runs of back-to-back birdies and made nine birdies altogether, but he mixed in four bogeys.

“My round was pretty up and down, and it gave me a heart attack out there,” Woods said. “But nine birdies is pretty good. A couple of three-putts, I made a few mistakes today, but overall pretty solid round. Pretty good position going into tomorrow.”

A rising junior at the Benjamin School in Palm Beach, Florida, Woods won the AJGA’s Team TaylorMade Invitational in May. He missed the cut at the recent U.S. Junior Amateur. He has not made a college commitment.

Lunden Esterline leads the Junior PGA at 19 under after carding a third-round 66. Esterline, from Andover, Kansas, is a 2027 Auburn commit.

Pennson Badget is tied with Woods in second after shooting a 67 on Thursday. Badgett, from Pilot Mountain, North Carolina, is a 2026 Tennessee commit.