Charlie Woods going at the PGAT a bit early

[CasualLie]

Uh...ok...

 

https://www.pgatour.com/article/news/latest/2024/02/21/charlie-woods-to-compete-in-pre-qualifier-for-cognizant-classic-in-the-palm-beaches

 

While having the best golf genetics doesn't get you on the PGAT, I'll take a bet Charlie will one day win on the PGAT.  That being said, this looks a bit early.  Am I missing something?  He didn't even crack top 10 in Notah's junior tournament.

Edited February 21 by CasualLie

[Peak]

It’s one of four pre-qualifying events in his hometown. I don’t see it as a big deal but the media will obviously milk it. Very surprised if the goal would be anything other than experience and understanding of what it takes.

[TayTaySlam]

Tiger probably wants him to feel that pressure and scrutiny that’s gonna come with this week . Just a development step in tigers eyes I would think , not the thought he’s really qualifying . 

[rule_6]

I'll take over 80 and tease it up to a WD

[stinger_gc]

It’s not that early. Guys like Tiger and Spieth played a tour event in their teens. And he’s playing in a pre-qualifying event

[bscinstnct]

CW gonna make like 92MM NFT cash by time he go college 🤣

[DFS PFD]

Dad just wants Charlie to get exposure and practice, good for them. 

[isaacbm]

I was trying to qualify for my local Canadian tour event when I was 15- 18 years old. No big deal. Just another tournament to get some experience.
   You can bet he’d be able to get a sponsors exemption if he really wanted.  (Assuming dad would be on the bag that week.) I commend him for going through the qualifying process. 

[stinger_gc]

Stinger GC needs to sign Charlie to a $50m 2 year contract 

[jobin]

'Dad on the bag'?  Some  tourneys forbid golf professionals from being a caddy, from my v limited experience.

[PJE]

Too early? Nah. If his goal is to play on Tour, then this is an opportunity to develop. It will be good for him to compete in an event where other competitors don’t care who he is, don’t care who his dad is, and are only interested in going as low as possible. He’s probably seen some of that in his junior events but this will be a little different. 
The value with this  event has to do with his personality and how he deals with risk, challenge, and the possibility of failure. In fact, failure would not be a bad thing. It’s a stepping stone. 
If he meets the entry requirements for the event, well, why not enter? Pre qualifiers are full of all kinds of people chasing a dream. 
(I dont think he will be successful but I guess he’ll find out.) 

Edited February 21 by PJE

[LBB]

29 minutes ago, isaacbm said:

   You can bet he’d be able to get a sponsors exemption if he really wanted.  (Assuming dad would be on the bag that week.) I commend him for going through the qualifying process. 

Absolutely this.  It's one thing to take a sponsor's exemption and completely another thing to go through the qualifying process from the very start, just like any other aspiring amateur would have to.

 

Tiger earned his way into events based on results.  Even if he was awarded sponsor's exemptions as an amateur, he had the US Junior and US Amateur titles to back up his resume.  It only makes sense that Tiger wants Charlie to earn his way into events as well.  

[bscinstnct]

I was like, can he even get the ball out there that far with these guys

 

But then see,

 

Charlie’s high school coach, Toby Harbeck, told me Charlie’s drives with his “normal” swing speed are in the 275- to 280-yard range, but with his “hard” swing, he can easily crank one out there 300-plus yards.

 

https://golf.com/news/charlie-woods-harder-setup-pnc-championship/?amp=1
 

 

Of course there’s much more to the game than just that but that was surprising. 

[isaacbm]

1 hour ago, jobin said:

'Dad on the bag'?  Some  tourneys forbid golf professionals from being a caddy, from my v limited experience.

In a professional qualifier, a person can bring anybody they want as a caddy. Including a past champion of the event. What I was saying specifically was the sponsor of the event would agree to give Charley an exemption under the condition that Tiger was on the property during the event and caddying for him. All kinds of people would tune in knowing Team-Woods were there together. 

Edited February 21 by isaacbm

[Obee]

4 hours ago, CasualLie said:

Uh...ok...

 

https://www.pgatour.com/article/news/latest/2024/02/21/charlie-woods-to-compete-in-pre-qualifier-for-cognizant-classic-in-the-palm-beaches

 

While having the best golf genetics doesn't get you on the PGAT, I'll take a bet Charlie will one day win on the PGAT.  That being said, this looks a bit early.  Am I missing something?  He didn't even crack top 10 in Notah's junior tournament.

Yes, you are missing something. 🙂

Nothing whatsoever wrong with a young, aspiring pro to go through the qualifying process in pro tournaments. Happens all the time. It's just one of many ways to build up tournament reps.

[Obee]

4 minutes ago, Obee said:

Yes, you are missing something. 🙂

Nothing whatsoever wrong with a young, aspiring pro to go through the qualifying process in pro tournaments. Happens all the time. It's just one of many ways to build up tournament reps.

Adding to this, literally only positives can come from this. He shots 82 and is DFL, big deal. Move on to the next one. 

Shoots 73 and beats or ties 40 other legit professionals? Boom. Confidence Boost.

[OnTheBag]

5 minutes ago, Obee said:

Yes, you are missing something. 🙂

Nothing whatsoever wrong with a young, aspiring pro to go through the qualifying process in pro tournaments. Happens all the time. It's just one of many ways to build up tournament reps.

This right here.  You cannot replicate the pressure of professional tournament play.  I played in more than my fair share of qualifiers, albeit a long time ago.  You can practice all you want but can't duplicate this type of experience.  Good for them to not use the name for an automatic seat via the sponsors only to bump someone more deserving.  

[PedronNiall]

2 hours ago, bscinstnct said:

I was like, can he even get the ball out there that far with these guys

 

But then see,

 

Charlie’s high school coach, Toby Harbeck, told me Charlie’s drives with his “normal” swing speed are in the 275- to 280-yard range, but with his “hard” swing, he can easily crank one out there 300-plus yards.

 

https://golf.com/news/charlie-woods-harder-setup-pnc-championship/?amp=1
 

 

Of course there’s much more to the game than just that but that was surprising. 

He was dropping bombs during the PNC Championship. There were some holes that Tiger took the safe shot then let Charlie blow the doors off to see what he can do. His power plus PGA-style fairway cuts and he was loooong.

[iBanesto]

Why not?

 

Play with better players to get better.

[Hawkeye77]

About to say “yes” then checked his age - forgot he was 15, still think of him as younger. Hope he has fun and realistic expectations. 

[NV825]

Charlie not only qualifies but ends up winning the Cognizant. Gets paired with dad at the Masters and beats him in a thrilling Sunday playoff to win the green jacket. 
 

It is written in the stars.

[JungleJimbo]

 

 

[bcjim]

You have to qualify for the qualifier now? Getting a bit silly.  

 

Isn't there some kook who shows up to Monday Q events occasionally and shoots 110 or something? How did he get in them?

[Jolter]

No problem with seeing how his game competes with others but looking at his junior record, if his last name wasn't Woods, this would be listed as an ego trip.

[jimecherry]

24 minutes ago, bcjim said:

You have to qualify for the qualifier now? Getting a bit silly.  

 

Isn't there some kook who shows up to Monday Q events occasionally and shoots 110 or something? How did he get in them?

depends on the tournament some pga sections give away exemptions some give spots into monday q, some have the qualifier on a separate course.  there's no written rule on how these things go.

[Obee]

2 hours ago, bcjim said:

You have to qualify for the qualifier now? Getting a bit silly.  

 

Isn't there some kook who shows up to Monday Q events occasionally and shoots 110 or something? How did he get in them?

Not silly at all. There are simply too many golfers wanting to compete for too few spots. It's a good thing. 

[dcmidnight]

Pretty sure most Mondays have "pre Mondays" now because of the number of people wanting to enter. Seems like a good idea IMO to weed out the ones who have no business being there.

 

If Charlie's long term goal is to play professionally somewhere, there is nothing he can do at home to simulate the nerves of tournament golf. So good for him, kind of cool he's taking this route if you ask me - because no doubt in my mind some tournament somewhere would give him a sponsors exemption if TW asked.

[ebrasmus21]

Any update on his score? 

[CSagan]

15 minutes ago, ebrasmus21 said:

Any update on his score? 

https://sflpga.bluegolf.com/bluegolfw/sflpga24/event/sflpga2413/contest/1/leaderboard.htm

 

dunno if they’ll do a 9 hole update or 3 hole. 

[tatertot]

1 hour ago, Obee said:

Not silly at all. There are simply too many golfers wanting to compete for too few spots. It's a good thing. 

"Compete" might be strong word.

 

Too many golfers willing to spend the money to say they played.