Royal Troon is Tiger Woods’s final chance at a major win this season. Everything needs to be perfect for Woods as he strides for the sixteenth stripe on his Sun Day Red logo. But there’s one thing missing from this equation: Charlie Woods. After all, who better motivates a father to succeed than his son? And with the kind of bond the duo shares, it becomes even more important for Woods Jr. to be there.

What makes his absence more perplexing is that his presence at the Masters and the U.S. Open earlier this year was a source of motivation for the 48-year-old. But why is this young coach not there? Well, it’s a matter of misaligned schedules.

As Senior Woods attempts to regain his lost throne, Junior Woods has been making strides to make a memorable debut. Almost a month ago, the young prodigy finished with a score of 1-under 71 at Eagle Trace Golf Club to qualify for the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship and his USGA debut. The US Junior Amateur is set to begin on July 22nd, just after the conclusion of the Open Championship.

This is why Tiger Woods’s son could not accompany him to Scotland, as it would collide with his practice sessions for his life’s crucial milestone. After all, this youngster dreams big, like his dad. He wants to win one day at the U.S. Open, and what better way to start at a USGA event? In light of his dear son’s absence, the 48-year-old will have to attempt a better finish at Royal Troon all by himself. Thankfully for him, he believes he “can still win.”

The 15-time major champ’s optimism comes in light of ongoing criticisms about his abilities, leading to frequent suggestions to retire. So what makes the 82-time PGAT champ so confident with not even his son backing him up in Scotland?

What makes Tiger Woods continue to strive for his 16th win despite rising criticism?

Tiger Woods’s resilience has marked his game for years. The same resilience continues to shine bright in his game as he looks forward to coming closer to the Golden Bear’s record. Colin Montgomerie had recently talked about how it’s time for the 48-year-old to take a deciding call on his career. He said, “At Pinehurst, he did not seem to enjoy a single shot and you think ‘What the hell is he doing?’. He’s coming to Troon and he won’t enjoy it there either….,” hinting at retirement as the next viable step for this golfing legend.

But Woods is one to make his own decisions. The same was highlighted in his reply to the 61-year-old. He said, “I’ll play as long as I can play and I feel like I can still win the event. As a past champion, I’m exempt until I’m 60. Colin’s not He’s not a past champion, so he’s not exempt. So he doesn’t get the opportunity to make that decision. I do,” and followed his comments up with a smirk.

Even though the Open was the star’s fifth start this season due to his injury-related struggles, his light continues to burn bright. Describing his new fitness routine, the star added, “I’ve been training a lot better. We’ve been busting it pretty hard in the gym, which has been good.”

Charlie Woods would remain a major miss this coming weekend. But it seems his father is in the mood to prove himself this weekend. A Tiger Woods comeback would definitely be a delight for his fans.