Charlie Woods has jumped 595 spots on the American Junior Golf Association Rolex Rankings from 609th to 14th, after his first junior victory at the AJGA’s Team Taylor Made Invitational on May 28 at the Streamsong Resort.
That means Woods will be in a position to become the third son of a past Players Championship winner to compete in the Junior Players Championship Aug. 28-31 at the Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass.
Woods’ father, Tiger Woods, won The Players Championship in 2001 and 2013.
The top 58 players on the AJGA ranking as of July 8 are eligible for the Junior Players. Another 20 spots, usually reserved for the top junior international players, are decided by the AJGA and the tournament committee.
Not only is Woods easily within the top-58 but and AJGA official said he can’t fall below that threshold by the deadline.
All that’s left is for Charlie Woods to commit to the Junior Players. The deadline is July 15.
What other Players winners’ sons have competed in Junior Players?
- Tyler McCumber tied for 31st in the 2009 Junior Players. His father, Mark McCumber, won The Players in 1988.
- Dru Love tied for 73rd in the 2010 Junior Players. His father, Davis Love III, won The Players in 1992 and 2003.
What other AJGA Invitationals could Charlie Woods play?
Three other stroke-play invitationals are remaining on the AJGA schedule in addition to the Junior Players for which Woods could qualify:
- Wyndham Invitational, June 10-12, Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro, N.C.
Requirements: 1. Top 10 from last year’s tournament. 2. Remaining field of 72 filled according to Rolex Rankings as of April 22 but the tournament committee could issue invitations.
- Ping Invitational, Oct. 11-13, Saticoy Club, Somis, Calif.
Requirements: Top 32 on Rolex Rankings as of Aug. 19.
- Rolex Tournament of Champions, Nov. 23-26, TPC San Antonio
Requirements: 1. Members of the Rolex All-American teams. 2. Rolex Scholastic Junior All-Americans (top six boys not already invited based on Rolex Rankings as of Oct. 16). 3. Players among the top 20 on Rolex AJGA Rankings as of October 16.
Charlie Woods invited to elite junior invitational
One immediate benefit of Woods’ vault up the AJGA rankings is an invitation to play in the Northeast Amateur, taking place June 18-21 at Wannamoisett Country Club in Rhode Island.
One of seven events on the Elite Amateur Golf Series, the Northeast Amateur was established as an annual junior golf tournament in 1962.
Its past winners include Jacksonville native David Duval, two-time major champions Collin Morikawa and Dustin Johnson, Luke Donald and Nick Dunlap.
“He’ll probably be arguably the biggest draw to come that week,” Northeast Amateur co-chairman Mick Hogan told the Palm Beach Post in sentiments that might well be duplicated by Junior Players officials.
Charlie Woods had not yet responded to the invitation.
