Tiger Woods gives son Charlie, 15, a ‘very special’ job at the US Open
Tiger Woods will be joined by his son Charlie at the US Open.
Tiger Woods and his son Charlie at the US Open.
Tiger Woods has confirmed that his son will be working with him as a swing coach at the US Open. Charlie Woods, 15, is becoming a familiar sight at the Majors and was spotted in North Carolina with his dad as they practised on the Pinehurst course in what has been described as a “very special” experience.
Charlie, a budding golf star, was unable to qualify for the US Open himself, but is still set to gain some valuable experience alongside his three-time champion father.
The 48-year-old Tiger needed a special exemption into the competition after missing the PGA Championship cut at Valhalla, but will be hoping that his swing can be improved under the tutelage of a new expert.
“I trust him with my swing and my game,” Woods explained after Charlie joined him in a player-support role this week. “He’s seen me hit more golf balls than anyone.”
He said that having his son by his side was “very special” and further added: “It’s neat for him to see the guys he watches on TV and YouTube and TikTok whatever the hell it is. He was very excited to watch Max (Homa) and Min Woo (Lee).”
Out of practice without playing competitively since limping out of the PGA Championship last month, Woods Senior and new caddie Lance Bennett scouted Pinehurst to get an idea of the challenge that lies ahead.
Charlie Woods will be working with his father Tiger’s swing at the US Open.
He was then seen on the practice range and course with Charlie on Sunday, before the new role was revealed, as Tiger does not have a coach for 2024. Tiger also brought Charlie along to help him at The Masters in April and US PGA in May.
Charlie has previously been seen holding a golf club out in front of Tiger as he swings through, very similar to the drill he used to work on with his former coach Butch Harmon.
Tiger has explained that a lack of time on the links had been detrimental to his underwhelming displays of late, but hoped that work behind the scenes can lead to improvement this week.
“I need to play more,” he said after missing the cut at Valhalla. “Unfortunately, I just haven’t played a whole lot of tournaments, and [there are] not a whole lot of tournaments on my schedule, either.
“Hopefully, everything will somehow come together in my practice sessions at home and be ready for Pinehurst.
“Physically, I am better than I was [in April.] I still have more ways to go, lots of improvement to go physically, and hopefully my team and I can get that done pre-Pinehurst and going into it.”