The only top-10 junior still uncommitted has college coaches circling—and one just made his move at a state championship.

Charlie Woods stands as the only uncommitted player in the top 10 of the American Junior Golf Association rankings, a curious position for someone with his credentials. Ranked No. 9 nationally, the 16-year-old has had a breakout 2025 that would make most juniors commit yesterday. His résumé includes his first AJGA tournament win, a tied-for-ninth finish at the Boys’ Junior PGA, and leading Benjamin School to a Florida state championship. Yet when asked about his college plans, his high school coach Toby Harbeck says Charlie’s been “very mum-mum about where he’s looking and what he’s thinking”. The silence isn’t from lack of options—it’s the opposite. Everyone wants him.

Florida State Makes Its Move

Last weekend at the Florida Class 1A State Championship, Florida State head coach Trey Jones was spotted speaking with Tiger Woods moments before Charlie fired a team-best 68 to seal the title. The timing wasn’t coincidental. The Seminoles finished as national runner-up in 2024 and recently landed Miles Russell, the No. 1 golfer in the latest AJGA rankings. Adding Charlie to a loaded 2027 class alongside Russell would be a blockbuster move, especially since their in-state rivals Florida have already secured two AJGA top-10 players. This is a recruiting war, and FSU just showed up on the battlefield.

The Stanford Question

The most obvious path would follow family tradition. Tiger was an All-American at Stanford from 1994-96, and Charlie’s older sister Sam currently studies there. But here’s the twist: Harbeck revealed back in 2023 that Charlie had already said “no” to that route, drawn instead to schools in the Southeast. It’s a choice that speaks volumes about forging his own identity. Tiger’s Stanford legacy looms large—11 tournament wins, 1996 NCAA champion, two-time Pac-10 Player of the Year. But Charlie seems determined to write a different story, even if it means turning down the Cardinal.

Why This Matters Now

Charlie’s 2025 season has turned quiet college golf inquiries into serious interest. The numbers tell the story: ranked in the 800s on major junior lists just 18 months ago, he’s now a genuine top-10 talent who won a premier AJGA invitational and earned first-team All-American honors. Harbeck confirmed that Charlie “has visited a couple schools” and that “there’s a lot of people that want him”. The recruiting landscape is heating up because the window is closing—the Class of 2027 is making commitments, and Charlie’s the last major piece on the board.

The Pressure of Being a Woods

What makes Charlie’s recruitment fascinating isn’t just the golf résumé—it’s the weight of the last name. College coaches are circling, conversations are happening, visits are underway, and as Charlie’s performances continue to elevate, the urgency among top programs is growing. He’s trying to balance legitimate interest with inevitable pressure, comparing programs while everyone compares him to his father. The difference? Tiger had a clear Stanford path. Charlie’s navigating uncharted territory, and he’s doing it his way—quietly, deliberately, and without tipping his hand until he’s ready.