At the young age of 14, Charlie Woods has already added multiple accolades to his name. The famous junior golfer has many skills, and the golf world, including many pro golfers, has chosen to remain cognizant of his many talents through the years. With Tiger Woods as his mentor, there is no denying the fact that Charlie Woods has a promising future ahead of him. But what is the golf world’s take on Charlie Woods’s performance so far?
Many famous professional golfers, like Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy, among others, have from time to time made remarks on Charlie Woods’s performance and his prospects as a professional in the future. Their assessment of his skills is not only useful but also highly influential for the rest of the golf world.
Here are some popular opinions about Tiger Woods’s sons’ capabilities:
1. Rory McIlroy
The four-time major winner is one famous professional golfer who has backed Charlie’s strong set of skills with his years of experience and mastery of the sport. McIlroy has expressed his curiosity to follow through with the 14-year-old golf prodigy’s progress.
In his praise of Charlie Woods, Rory McIlroy once said, “You know, Charlie is a great kid; first and foremost, he is a great young player. I think we’re all excited to sort of follow his progress and see how far he can go.”
2. Jon Rahm
In recent times, Jon Rahm has been the center of attention in the golf world due to his move to LIV Golf, which fetched him an approximately $566 million contract. However, there’s no questioning Rahm’s judgment when it comes to the greens.
Seeing Tiger Woods and Charlie Woods partner up for the PNC Championship in the past had led Rahm to make a forecast of the budding golfer’s future. In 2022, during an interview before the Sentry Tournament of the Champions, he lauded Woods Jr. for his stunning game at the 2022 PNC Championship. He said, “He’s got a lot of talent. If he keeps working hard, which I’m sure he will, I wouldn’t doubt that one second we’ll see him one day, maybe sitting here.”
3. Phil Mickelson
Back in 2021, Phil Mickelson was seen wittily reacting to a video of Charlie Woods and Tiger Woods playing alongside while wearing similar-looking clothes and displaying a similar style of making the shot—a perfect father-son characteristic. Lefty praised Charlie Wood in his comment and said that he liked his “recoil” better than his father’s.
He wrote, “I like Charlie’s recoil better!” His statement garnered a lot of attention online at the time. This was both because of his witty take while pulling Tiger Woods’s leg and because of his praise for Charlie Woods.
4. Justin Thomas
The bond between Jupiter residents Justin Thomas and Charlie Woods is truly unbreakable. The famous golfer’s duo is often seen teeing it up alongside one another and bantering on the course as well. JT has seen Charlie’s journey very closely.
Tracing back to their cordial but playful relationship, Thomas once made a funny remark about Woods Jr. while comparing him to Tiger Woods. During one of his interviews at the 2020 Mayakoba Classic, the golfer talked about Charlie, “For some reason, Charlie always wants to beat me; it doesn’t matter what it is. Although he’s never beaten me in golf or a putting contest, he talks trash just like his dad.”
5. Lee Trevino
Lee Trevino is a golf world sensation like no other. Despite formally retiring from the game, his heart still belongs to the greens, and his actions are just an exemplification of the same. Charlie Woods had caught his attention at the PNC Championship in the past while teeing it up alongside Woods Senior. Trevino even motivated Charlie Woods by saying that he could potentially grow into the greatest ball striker in the game.
6. Padraig Harrington
Continuing the streak of famous golfers who have used humor in their honest opinion of the talent-filled young golfer is the Irish professional golfer, Padraig Harrington. The 52-year-old golf world legend mentioned Charlie Woods in his list of the three golfers who have left him entranced.
Alongside Woods Junior, golf legend Gary Player and Lee Trevino found a place on Harrington’s list of golfers who have left him awestruck. While talking about Tiger Woods’s son, Padraig Harrington chose to make a funny declaration about the 15x major champion as well. He said, “On the opposite end of the scale, at 11 years of age, you have Charlie Woods and what’s ahead of him. It is interesting. Push Tiger aside. You’re not the story anymore.’’
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7. Fred Couples
The former world number 1, Fred Couples, has time and again expressed his views on Charlie Woods. His bond with Tiger Woods is iron-clad, and his opinion of his friend’s son is reflective of the same.
He thinks that Junior Woods is a spitting image of his father. Talking about Charlie, Couples said, “I’ve known him since he was 4 years old. I know his father like the back of my hand; he’s the spitting image of him. …it’s like the old days.”
All in all, the golf world’s verdict on Charlie Woods seems to provide hope for a bright and glimmering future ahead for him.
