- The Washington Times - Thursday, February 22, 2024

Charlie Woods, 15, son of Tiger Woods, played in his first PGA Tour pre-qualifying event Thursday as an amateur in an attempt to make the Cognizant Classic.

The prequalifying round was held at Lost Lake Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Florida, with the top five players and ties moving to an open qualifying round to be held Monday at the Tesoro Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Charlie Woods competed alongside Olin Browne Jr., 35, the son of three-time PGA Tour event winner Olin Browne, the PGA Tour said in a release. 

Previously, Charlie Woods competed along with his dad in the four most recent PNC Championship, an unofficial PGA Tour Champions 36-hole scramble event that usually consists of fathers and sons. The Woods duo finished as runners-up in 2021. 

Charlie, who attends the private Benjamin School in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, also helped win the school’s fourth Class 1A state golf championship last November, a distinction his famous father never achieved.

“It was cool,” Charlie Woods told the Palm Beach Post. “It was fun having my scores count both days, even though I didn’t play very good. But having a win over him and having something he doesn’t, it feels pretty good.”

Thursday’s pre-qualifier was Charlie’s first attempt at trying to make an official PGA event. 

Charlie Woods shot a 47 on the front nine and made the turn to finish with an 86 for 16 over par with four bogeys and three double bogeys, including 12 shots on the par-4 seventh hole.  He failed to make a birdie and tied for 110th among the 112 players who turned in their cards. The leading score was a 65 and it took a 67 to advance. Browne shot a 72.

The Cognizant Classic, previously known as the Honda Classic, will be held at the PGA National Champion Course in Palm Beach Gardens from Feb. 29 through March 3.

• This article is based in part on wire service reports.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.

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