Tiger’s son shoots 81-74 in Dallas, but the real story is what this tournament represents for junior golf’s elite

Charlie Woods missed the cut at the 2025 US Junior Amateur Championship in Dallas this week, shooting rounds of 81 and 74 to finish well outside the top 64 players who advanced to match play. The 16-year-old struggled in his opening round at Brook Hollow Golf Club before showing improvement in round two at Trinity Forest Golf Club, but it wasn’t enough to advance. This marks the second consecutive year Charlie has failed to make the cut at golf’s most prestigious junior championship. Tiger Woods was in attendance both days, marking his first public appearance since undergoing Achilles surgery in March.

What Makes This Tournament Brutal

The US Junior Amateur isn’t your typical weekend tournament – this is the Super Bowl of junior golf. 264 of the world’s best players under 18 start the week, but only 64 survive the 36-hole cut. The winner’s list reads like golf royalty: Tiger won it three straight (1991-1993), Jordan Spieth twice (2009, 2011), Scottie Scheffler in 2013, plus legends like Johnny Miller and David Duval. When you win this tournament, you’re joining the future major champions club.

The Competition Level

Charlie earned his spot by winning a playoff at a Florida qualifier, coming off his biggest amateur victory at the AJGA Team TaylorMade Invitational where he shot a final-round 66. But the competition in Dallas was fierce – Miles Russell, the 15-year-old who’s already made PGA Tour starts, easily made the cut with rounds in the 60s and 70s. Tyler Watts shot consecutive 68s. Even Trevor Gutschewski, son of PGA Tour player Scott Gutschewski, advanced as defending champion.

The Pressure Reality

What most don’t realize is the unique pressure Charlie faces. While other juniors can struggle in anonymity, Charlie had 500 spectators watching his first tee shot and galleries following every hole. That’s major championship-level attention for a 16-year-old still developing his competitive game. The fact that he bounced back from last year’s disappointment to earn his way back into the field shows real character.

Looking Forward

Charlie still has two more years of junior eligibility, and development isn’t linear in golf. Nick Dunlap won this tournament in 2022 and just made history on the PGA Tour. Missing cuts stings, but it’s education. Charlie has shown he can compete at the highest levels – his Streamsong victory proved that. Now it’s about putting together four consistent rounds when the lights are brightest. The 2026 US Junior Amateur will give him another shot at golf’s biggest junior stage.