‘Charlie Woods in Shambles’: 15YO Prodigy’s Rare PGA Tour Feat Sends Golf World Into Frenzy

Charlie Woods’s dreams of a PGA Tour debut were shattered! But there’s another 15-year-old who is making all the right moves. It is Miles Russell. He received a sponsor exemption to play in the Rocket Mortgage Classic and this will mark the young golfer’s PGA Tour debut. Russell is the youngest player in Korn Ferry Tour history to make a cut, achieving a 5-under 66 in April at the LECOM Suncoast Classic in Longwood, Florida, to qualify on the PGA Tour’s developmental circuit.

Russell will join the likes of Rickie Fowler, who is preparing to defend his Rocket Mortgage Classic title at the Detroit Golf Club, and other prominent golfers. With Russell’s status as the 2023 American Junior Golf Association Player of the Year, all eyes will undoubtedly be on him. It will be intriguing to see how this young talent performs alongside seasoned veterans, but meanwhile, he has garnered a lot of admiration from the golf community.

After the PGA Tour welcomed this 15-year-old prodigy, he expressed his excitement, stating, “Ever since I first started playing golf, my dream has been to compete on the PGA Tour and test my game against the best players.” His desire to play on Jay Monahan’s circuit has come true, and he shared his enthusiasm for the upcoming tournament, saying, “I’m looking forward to making the most of the experience later this month.” 

The tournament is scheduled from June 27 to June 30. NUCLRGOLF shared the good news on X, “JUST IN: 15-year-old high schooler Miles Russell is making his PGA TOUR debut at the Rocket Mortgage Classic after receiving a sponsor’s exemption.” Additionally, Russell’s passion for professional golf is further evident, as he is also attempting to qualify for the US Open in Pinehurst. He opened the first round with 2 under 68.

However, let’s not forget how Charlie Woods didn’t qualify for a U.S. Open last month after shooting a 9-over 81. Before this, in February, he shot 86 in order to qualify for the PGA Tour’s Cognizant Classic. In both these instances, Charlie was trying to qualify at a younger age than his father, Tiger Woods. Tiger Woods played his first PGA Tour event when he was 16 at the 1992 Nissan Open.

But coming back to Russell, there’s even bigger news. Following his impressive performance at the Korn Ferry in April, TaylorMade announced an NIL agreement with reigning AJGA Rolex Junior Player of the Year Miles Russell, adding him to its esteemed roster of junior, collegiate, and professional golfers. As a result, the 15-year-old golfer now exclusively uses a full set of TaylorMade equipment, comprising the Qi10 LS driver, TP5x golf ball, and P·Series irons.

Talking about the deal, the 15-year-old said, “I have had a great relationship with the team at TaylorMade for years now and couldn’t be more excited to continue to work with them in the future. TaylorMade has a history of developing the top junior talent in the world to help reach their goals of becoming PGA TOUR and major championship winners. I am looking forward to working with the team to reach those and other goals I have laid out for my career.”

Renowned for its forgiveness and distance-enhancing features, the Qi10 LS driver could be the ideal choice for Russell, especially when paired with the precision and performance of the P·Series irons. With the attention of the world and the best gear in tow, Miles Russell looks poised to take the gold world by storm in the coming days.

The golf world is in awe of Miles Russell!

“Congratulations” were in order for the young star as people started appreciating him. The golf world also noted how “amazing” it is to achieve this feat at such an early age. Russell is currently ranked at number 1 in the Rolex AJGA rankings. He has played in 8 events on the AJGA circuit so far and has won two: the Junior PLAYERS Championship presented by Rolex and the Boy’s Junior PGA Championship, both in 2023.

While many appreciated Russell’s accomplishment, some fans had different thoughts, particularly about Charlie Woods, with one commenting, “Charlie Woods in shambles seeing this.” The fan was referring to Woods Jr’s two failed attempts. While many expected Charlie Woods’s debut in the PGA, Russell took everyone by surprise.

On a similar note, another person commented, “Bad news for Tiger. If this kid plays and beats Woods in a tournament they are both participating in it will send TW into retirement for sure.”

Although his journey has just begun, many also wished him good luck, with comments like “Let’s go! Good luck, Miles!” His best finish so far this year has been T6 at the 2024 Junior Invitational at Sage Valley. With such a good score, he will definitely be able to go head-to-head with seasoned pros. Another X user had a positive attitude. “Super cool! We need him paired up with Charlie Woods sooner than later.”

While some are suggesting pairing Russell with Wood Jr., others are surprised, asking,

“But no Charlie?” This highlights the expectation of this fan for the PGA Tour to extend an invite to the 15-year-old. Emphasizing this sentiment, another comment similarly questions, “Where is Charlie Woods invite?” 

Additionally, some believe that “it’s go time,” emphasizing that this might be the moment for the young prodigy to begin his journey. Earlier in 2024, Russell was the only amateur to advance to the final Monday Qualifier for the Puerto Rico Open, but he unfortunately fell short in a playoff. He carded an incredible 5 under 67, but this time, he will finally be playing on the greens with Tour pros. Things certainly look promising, as he is already securing sponsorships from brands like TaylorMade.

What are your thoughts on Miles Russell and his performance? Do you think Charlie Woods should be worried? Share your opinions in the comments section below!