Tiger Woods was back in the public eye Monday watching son Charlie compete in the opening round of the 2025 U.S. Junior Amateur.
It was one of Woods’ first public appearances since March, when he had surgery to repair a ruptured left Achilles tendon, an injury that has sidelined him since. He last competed professionally in the 2024 British Open more than a year ago, missing the cut at Royal Troon. He and Charlie competed in the PNC Championship last December, losing in a playoff to Team Langer.
Charlie shot 11-over 81 in the first round at stroke-play co-host Brook Hollow in Dallas, the more difficult of the two courses on the opening day. He closed each of his 9s with birdies but had three doubles to offset the pair of circles. Tuesday morning, he’ll head to Trinity Forest and have to put together a stellar round to have any shot at making the cut, where he sits nine strokes behind as of Monday evening.
Woods famously won the U.S. Junior three consecutive times from 1991-93 before rattling off thrice U.S. Amateur titles from 1994-96. He has since won three U.S. Opens, and with nine USGA titles is arguably the most decorated athlete in USGA history. Next year, he’ll become eligible for the U.S. Senior Open.
Charlie is making his second appearance in the U.S. Junior. He missed the cut last year at Oakland Hills in Michigan.
Last month, Charlie won the Team TaylorMade Invitational at Streamsong Resort’s Black Course, an AJGA event featuring most of the top juniors in the country. He then qualified for the U.S. Junior after shooting 1-under 71 in his Florida qualifier before winning a 3-for-1 playoff to nab the final of five spots.
Of the nearly 30 players to finish under par in the opening round of the U.S. Junior, only two played at Brook Hollow. Kailer Stone and China’s Qiyou Wu shae the lead after opening 5-under 66s at Trinity Forest, which is hosting its first USGA event.
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