Charlie Woods might be 15 years old, but he has already got the majority of the golf community rooting for him. After trying to follow the footsteps of his GOAT father to the greens several times, playing with him at the PNC Championship for a few years, and even trying his luck to make his debut on the PGA Tour, the young golfer is all ready to set foot in the world of USGA.

He will be participating in the 76th US Junior Amateur, scheduled to be held at Oakland Hills CC. Many prominent names will be teeing off for the amateur glory, but who are some of the golfers on the green that might present a significant challenge to Charlie Woods on his journey toward the throne? Here’s a short list of potential rivals of Charlie Woods that you need to know about.

3. Kris Kim

Son of LPGA golfer Ji-Hyun Suh, Kris Kim is a CJ Group ambassador. He also received a sponsor exemption for the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. At the TPC Craig Ranch, the English golfer made the cut and finished T65 with a score of 2-over par. With this, Kim became the youngest golfer ever to make cut on the PGA Tour event at the age of 16 years, seven months, and three days.

The golfer also won the Boys Amateur Championship at Ganton Golf Club last year. Hailing from Surrey, this English young golfer represented Europe in the Junior Ryder Cup in 2023 and was declared the winner. This 16-year-old has already signed a contract—a NIL deal with TaylorMade and the apparel brand Under Armour.

2. Miles Russell

Although Miles Russell is also 15, like Charlie Woods, the former has already received a sponsor exemption! Russell was seen on the greens of Detroit Golf Club a month ago for the Rocket Mortgage Classic. He missed the cut but finished with an even par by the end of two rounds. He has even broken Charlie Woods’ father, Tiger Woods’s record as the youngest Rolex Junior Player of the Year in AJGA.

According to NBC Sports, “He did not play the U.S. junior last year, though he did make match play in his debut two years ago. Last summer, Russell reached as high as No. 69 in WAGR while notching big wins at the Boys Junior PGA and AJGA Junior Players.” Russell was also the youngest player to make a cut in a Korn Ferry Tour event. He finished T20 and again achieved yet another tag that is “the youngest on the KFT or PGA Tour (at least since 1983) to post a top-25,” said NBC Sports.

1. Blades Brown

Born in 2007, this 16-year-old golfer, Blades Brown, was able to snatch the title of the youngest medalist at stroke play in U.S. Amateur history. The record was made over a century ago, in 1920, and was left unbroken until Brown finished tied for the first at the 123rd U.S. Amateur. He scored 8-under 64 and even set the course record at Colorado Golf Club.

The golfer had also shot an impressive 62 at the Franklin Bridge Golf Club last year. Following this, his US amateur performance also earned him an exemption. Owing to this, Brown was able to play in his very first PGA Tour event, the Myrtle Beach Classic. The 16-year-old golfer has not only made a cut but finished T26.

Apart from these three fierce golfers, the field has some other notable names. This includes 18-year-old Joshua Bai, who finished as the runner-up in the last U.S. Junior Amateur runner-up in Charleston, South Carolina. Besides Bai, Xihuan Chang, Ratchanon Chantananuwat, Nguyen Anh Minh, and Ziqin Zhou are some of those amateur golfers who are ranked among the top 100 players in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) that you must look out for.

Who among the rivals do you think will be able to beat Charlie Woods? Or do you think Charlie will emerge at the top? Let us know in the comments below.