Charlie Woods accomplished something Wednesday that had eluded him throughout his junior golf career – his first American Junior Golf Association tournament victory. The 16-year-old son of Tiger Woods fired rounds of 70-65-66 to finish at 15-under par and capture the Team TaylorMade Invitational at Streamsong Black in Florida.

The victory represents Charlie’s best accomplishment in amateur golf and came against a strong field that included the country’s top junior players. Most impressively, Woods defeated No. 1-ranked junior Miles Russell by six shots despite entering the tournament ranked No. 606 on the AJGA’s Rolex Junior Golf rankings – making him the second-lowest ranked player in the 72-player field.

Breaking Through Against Elite Competition

The tournament field featured top college recruits from across the country, with a majority coming from the 2025 and 2026 graduating classes. Woods’ ability to not just compete but dominate against such elite competition marks a significant step forward in his development.

His previous best AJGA result was a T25 finish at the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley, making this breakthrough victory all the more meaningful. The win comes as Woods, a high school sophomore, approaches an important milestone – beginning June 15, he can start communicating with college coaches per NCAA Division I recruiting guidelines.

Following in Famous Footsteps

While the comparisons to his father are inevitable, Charlie is writing his own story. Tiger Woods won eight AJGA events between 1991 and 1993 and famously won the U.S. Junior Amateur three consecutive years. Charlie’s path has been more gradual, but this victory suggests his game is trending in the right direction.

Earlier this spring, Woods attempted to qualify for the U.S. Open, shooting 75 in his local-stage qualifier and missing by seven shots. While he didn’t advance, it represented significant improvement from last season’s attempt when he shot 9-over 81. In 2024, he qualified for but missed the cut at the U.S. Junior Amateur.