Lev Grinberg vs Charlie Woods: Ranking Better Amateur By Handicap Score, Career & More

After Miles Russell and Kris Kim, Ukrainian Lev Grinberg has become the headline in the golf world. The 16-year-old would soon be teeing up at the Soudal Open. the event where he made his DP World Tour debut at the age of 14 and became the second youngest player to make the cut on the European Circuit. Grinberg would be returning to the Soudal Open at Rinkven International Golf Club in one day, and this time, he would aim to finish in the top 10. With his upward career trajectory, how does Grinberg stand against another remarkable junior pro, Charlie Woods?

What are the handicaps and rankings of the two juniors?

Unlike Charlie Woods, who was always surrounded by golf but never took it seriously until high school, Lev Grinberg is a child prodigy who started playing when he was five years old at the Kozyn Golf & Country Club in Keiv, Ukraine. Moreover, while Woods had his legendary father, Tiger Woods, to help him, Grinberg’s dad was also a former badminton player who helped him learn the sport better.

Woods has a handicap of +3 with the Florida State Golf Association. On the other hand, Grinberg has a handicap index of +3.7, a little more than Woods. But when it comes to their diverse rankings, Grinberg has a better ranking overall.

Although Grinberg is not ranked on the Junior Golf Scoreboard Rankings, in the past he had and then took the highest rank of #3. While Woods is currently ranked 941st on the JGS, the Ukrainian golfer is ranked 84th on the AJGA and 310th on the World Amateur Golf Rankings. Whereas, Woods Jr. isn’t ranked on any of the two ranking systems.

Henceforth, the 16-year-old from Florida played his first AJGA event (the Will Lowry Junior Championship) through a sponsor exemption and has yet to qualify for a USGA amateur event. Grinberg played in the 2017 U.S. Open after playing in the qualifying event. Statistically, Grinberg has slightly overpowered Woods in the rankings as well.

As is well known, Woods has played with many professional golfers courtesy of the PNC Championship and has hit many incredible shots. The two are thriving in their lanes, but who has a better victory record?

Who has more wins: Charlie Woods or Lev Grinberg?

Grinberg started winning when he was only 6 and had his first junior victory in his hometown. He then went on to win his first international victory at the Cyprus Junior Open in 2021. Grinberg also triumphed at the Federal Tour 54 Holes in 2022, increasing his international victories to two.

In contrast, Woods still has to break the shackles to win on the international level. However, he has multiple times won on the Florida Junior Tour and helped his school, Benjamin High School, become victorious at the Florida High School State Championship. Moreover, in 2023, Woods qualified for the NBII Junior Golf Championship by winning the Flordia Regional Boys. Comparatively, Woods still has a long way to go to perform better on the international level or win a national championship. And when it comes to individual victories, Grinberg has one-upped the 16-year-old junior golfer.

This time, Lev Grinberg has taken away more wins and rankings, while Charlie Woods has a better handicap; the score stays 1-2. In the upcoming days, as the two junior golfers succeed in their careers, anyone can one-up the other!