The history of the US Open has a strong mention of his father. Charlie Woods will try to write a new chapter on Thursday.
The 15-year-old son of Tiger Woods will start with an 18-hole local qualifier in Port St. Lucie, Florida, where he will be one of 84 players competing for a spot in the 124th Major Championship.
The top five finishers at The Legacy Golf and Tennis Club will move on to the second and final qualifying round, known as “Golf’s Longest Day,” which will take place in May and June at 36-hole tournaments spread across 10 US and 3 international locations.
The top 50 players in the world who are already exempt for the third men’s major of the season, along with defending champion Wyndham Clark, will stamp their tickets to Pinehurst Resort and Country Club in North Carolina on June 13 if they advance past that point.
After competing at four PNC Championships, an unofficial team event on the PGA Tour Champions, with his 82-time PGA Tour winning father, young Woods saw his first taste of Tour qualifying in February when he teed off in a pre-qualifier for the Cognizant Classic.
The adolescent, who was being followed by large groups of people around the Lost Lake Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Florida, shot a 16-over par 86 to miss the cut.
This year, there are 10,052 entries for US Open qualifying, including Woods. To be eligible, a player must have a handicap of no more than 0.4 or be a professional. The submissions come from all 50 states as well as 70 other nations.
According to the USGA, 12-year-old Houston, Texas resident Beck Patrick is the youngest golfer trying to get into Pinehurst, while 74-year-old Washington native Keith Crimp is the oldest.
In order to focus on his recuperation from ankle surgery, Woods’ father withdrew from last year’s Los Angeles Country Club tournament, preventing him from going for his fourth US Open championship.
At Pebble Beach in 2000, the 15-time major winner secured his maiden victory in a historically dominant form, finishing 15 strokes ahead of his nearest challenger. It continues to be the biggest winning margin in any of the four major championships for men to this day.
Before withdrawing from the 2014 tournament with a back injury, he won two more titles in 2002 and 2008, but never at Pinehurst. He tied for second in 1999 and third in 2005.
In order to focus on his recuperation from ankle surgery, Woods’ father withdrew from last year’s Los Angeles Country Club tournament, preventing him from going for his fourth US Open championship.
At Pebble Beach in 2000, the 15-time major winner secured his maiden victory in a historically dominant form, finishing 15 strokes ahead of his nearest challenger. It continues to be the biggest winning margin in any of the four major championships for men to this day.
Before withdrawing from the 2014 tournament with a back injury, he won two more titles in 2002 and 2008, but never at Pinehurst. He tied for second in 1999 and third in 2005.
Ten years later, the 48-year-old’s physical limitations still limit his playing time.