Interest in the U.S. Junior Amateur, already one of the USGA’s premier annual national championships and a launching pad for many of tomorrow’s stars, could expand beyond the traditional golf audience this summer.
Charlie Woods will be in the field.
The 15-year-old Woods, son of golf legend Tiger Woods – himself a three-time Junior Am champ – was one of four qualifiers at Eagle Trace Golf Club in Coral Springs, Florida, to earn spots in the U.S. Junior, which will be played July 22-27 at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Oakland Hills will host the 2034 and 2051 U.S. Opens.
Perhaps young Woods can create better memories of Oakland Hills than his father holds. The elder Woods, winner of a record-tying 82 PGA Tour titles, competed twice at the suburban Detroit course: tied for 82nd as an amateur at the 1996 U.S. Open and compiled a 2-3-0 mark in match play, including an ill-fated 0-2 pairing with Phil Mickelson, in the 2004 Ryder Cup, in which the Americans were trounced by Europe, 18½-9½. READ MORE
TAP-INS
Chambers Bay, a municipal course in University Place, Washington, will host the 2028 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship on May 20-24, the USGA announced. It will be the seventh USGA event to be held at Chambers Bay, which also has the 2027 U.S. Junior Amateur and the 2033 U.S. Amateur scheduled. READ MORE
Compiled by Steve Harmon