Charlie Woods fails in U.S. Junior Amateur playoff after camera click interrupts backswing
Charlie Woods, the 17-year-old son of 15-time major champion Tiger Woods, saw his time at the U.S. Junior Amateur at Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, come to an end in frustrating fashion during a playoff.
Woods teed up on the par-5, 584-yard first hole knowing he needed a birdie after the two players ahead of him shot under par on the hole. As he attempted to get to the green in two, his second shot landed short left of the green in the rough.
While attempting his third shot about 25 yards from the green, a camera clicked as he was in his backswing. The shot out of the rough did not go well for the Florida State commit, who turned and said, “Really, dude?”
🚨Charlie Woods playoff hole at 2026 U.S. Junior Championship at Saucon Valley C.C. phone camera clicks in backswing and misses cut 🚨 pic.twitter.com/1T709uo94y
— Trevor Keaton (@Trevor_Keaton) July 22, 2026
Woods needed to chip in on his fourth shot to make birdie, but failed to do so and then missed a par save. He ended up bogeying the hole and was eliminated in the 14-for-2 playoff for one of the final spots in the round of 64 matchplay field.
Woods, whose dad won the event three straight times from 1991-1993, had shot rounds of 76 and 70 during stroke play to claim a spot in the sudden-death playoff on Wednesday. It was his best showing at the junior championship after shooting rounds of 82 and 80 in 2024 and 80 and 74 last year.
Woods will be eligible to play in the event one last time in 2027.
