Negative Stat Hangs Large Over Charlie Woods’s Bold PGA Tour Move; Sparks Serious Debate Among Fans

The news of Tiger Woods’s son Charlie Woods planning to compete in the men’s circuit made headlines a while back. He will compete in an 18-hole pre-qualifying event for the upcoming PGA Tour event, the Cognizant Classic at Palm Beach Gardens. But a tweet by Jordan Perez, a golf journalist, has highlighted some facts regarding the 15-year-old’s first attempt to qualify for the PGA Tour, leading to a debate.

The golf community was quick to respond to the tweet as many of them chimed in with their thoughts.

Charlie Woods hasn’t played at any AJGA or USGA amateur event

The post shared by the golf writer points out how the young athlete has “never played” any event on the American Junior Golf Association. Moreover, the tweet mentioned how he has also not even “tried to qualify for a USGA amateur event but is…entering a pre-qualifier for a pga tour event.”

Elaborating on the issue, the writer also commented under the original post on the “world of pressure” that Woods’s son and his family would have to “live up to.” She also alluded to the fact that he would have to bypass high-level events at just 15 years of age, all the while keeping in mind his status.

However, golf fans shared a different view and believed that Charlie Woods did nothing wrong and had every right to be in the qualifying event. Even though Charlie Woods hasn’t played in a USGA amateur event or an AJGA, that is not a pre-requisite to play in a pre-qualifier for a PGA Tour event.

“Leave the kid alone” Golf fans have their say on Charlie Woods PGA Tour hopes

There were a range of comments under the tweet. Many followers took to support the young athlete, all the while calling attention to the fact that no one would have cared if he wasn’t the Hall of Famer’s son. A fan wrote that since there is an entry fee to participate it shouldn’t be an issue, he also mentioned how someone like the 15-year-old would be able to gain experience as well from the event.

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One fan pointed out it could be Tiger Woods’s way of having his son learn through trial by fire. Despite making the Tour as a youth at 16, Tiger Woods didn’t join the majors until he was 20 years old. This means that at 15, Charlie Woods still has plenty of time in order to qualify for the PGA Tour for the first time.

The father-son duo has competed together in the past four PNC Championships, but this will be Charlie Woods’s first attempt as an individual in an event tied to TOUR-sanctioned competition.

Another supporter took to backing up the Woods family’s decision by divulging how no rule has been broken. They also expressed hope that the decision was made as per the teenager’s wishes and not his father’s dreams.

Another fan also mentioned that the spot to qualify for an event is open to anyone, given how it requires submitting a fee. After coming through the pre-qualifiers one can participate in the Monday qualifiers.

One fan couldn’t understand why the community would be bothered by the kid eyeing the PGA Tour as a teenager. Moreover, they called attention to the fact that he was someone who had every right to play in the same.

A fan also didn’t have an issue with Charlie Woods playing the pre-qualifiers. However, they said that Woods Jr. would end up choking even before reaching the main part of the PGA Tour event, at the Cognizant Classic.

UPDATE: Charlie Woods carded a 16-over-par 86 at Lost Lake Golf Club, which was one of the four pre-qualifying sites. Thus he was unable to advance beyond the pre-qualifiers and won’t compete at the PGA Tour’s Cognizant Classic.

The top five scores and ties from each of the pre-qualifying sites advance to Monday’s qualifier from where the top four golfers advance to the Cognizant Classic

What did you think of the 15-time major champ’s son trying his hand at the qualifiers? Do you think he will make it? Share your thoughts below.

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