Woods Stands Alone on Day Two
Charlie Woods faces a steep climb after Saturday’s round at the Junior Players Championship. The 17-year-old son of Tiger Woods shot a 1-over 73 on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. He now sits at even par after 36 holes. This score leaves him four strokes behind the leaders. Sam Carraher, Dawson Lew, and Giuseppe Puebla all share the top spot at 4-under. Woods started the day tied for eighth following a 1-under 71 on Friday. His second round saw him mix four birdies with five bogeys. The pressure at Sawgrass is real, even for the son of a legend. He will begin Sunday tied for 14th place. The final round starts at 8:10am. It is a tough test for a senior at The Benjamin School.
Advertisement
The Numbers Tell the Story
According to GolfMagic, Woods’ performance on Saturday was a mix of highs and lows. He birdied the 2nd, 3rd, 10th, and 18th holes. However, bogeys on the 4th, 6th, 11th, 12th, and 16th holes cost him ground. The leaderboard shows a tight race at the top. Golfweek reported that this event celebrates its 20th anniversary this Labor Day weekend. The field includes seventy-eight of the globe’s finest young golfers. They represent 16 countries and 19 states. Thirteen players from the 2026 Junior Presidents Cup squads are taking part. For many, this is a major step up. Stephen Hamblin, the AJGA’s executive director since 1984, has seen countless players make this jump. The organization has grown from a broken-down van and 13 tournaments a year to 145 events nationwide.
Off the course, big news broke. Golf Monthly reported that Woods officially joined the TaylorMade roster with a new name, image, and likeness deal. This was not a surprise to those watching his bag closely. He has used the brand’s gear for months. A social media post by TaylorMade featured the caption: “Just getting started” Welcome to the squad, Charlie Woods. #TeamTaylorMade.David Ables, CEO of TaylorMade Golf, stated, “We build our roster of athletes around those who are driven by the game of golf and have an unmatched desire to compete at the highest level” Woods will use a near full set of TaylorMade clubs. This includes the Qi4D driver and fairway woods. His irons are the P7CB and P7TW models. He also uses MG5 wedges and TP5x golf balls.
What the Score Means for Sunday
Being four shots back at the halfway point is not impossible, but it is difficult. The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass punishes mistakes. Woods made five bogeys in his second round. That is a high number for a player of his caliber. GolfMagic noted that he sits at even par. The leaders are at 4-under. To win, he needs to play much better on Sunday. His mother, Elin Nordegren, has been there to cheer him on. She was pictured taking photos during the opening round. The pressure is different here. He is not just playing a junior event. He is playing on the same course where his father won The Players Championship. Tiger Woods has a significant history at TPC Sawgrass. Charlie is trying to carve his own path while wearing the family name. The new TaylorMade deal adds another layer of attention. He is now a staffer for a major brand. This means every shot is watched closely.
Advertisement
The equipment change is significant. He had used a Titleist driver before this week. Now he uses the TaylorMade Qi4D Core with a Graphite Design Tour AD DI 6 X shaft. It is set at 10.5°. His fairway woods are a 3-wood and a 7-wood. The 3-wood uses a Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 80 TX shaft. The 7-wood uses a Fujikura Ventus Black VeloCore+ 8 X shaft. His irons from 5-iron to pitching wedge are the P7TW model. These were inspired by Tiger. They feature a longer blade length and a thinner topline. He uses True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts in his irons. This is the same setup his father uses. Having the right gear helps, but it does not fix the bogeys. Woods must clean up his game to catch the leaders.
The Final Round Awaits
The final round gets underway at 8:10am Sunday. GolfMagic confirmed this start time for the group. Woods will tee off with the same course that challenges the best players in the world. He needs to avoid bogeys and find birdies. The field includes players from 16 countries. The competition is fierce. Golfweek highlighted that the AJGA circuit is a launching pad for future PGA Tour stars. Many elite golfers learned to handle pressure here. Woods is one of them. He has already claimed a handful of victories. His biggest win came at the Team TaylorMade Invitational in May 2025. He also won an AJGA title at Streamsong Resort’s Black Course. Those wins show he can handle big moments. Sunday at TPC Sawgrass is another big moment. The outcome will determine if he can close the gap or fall further behind.
Read the full article here