Charlie Woods cooks up short-game magic at TPC Sawgrass in the Junior Players

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL — Charlie Woods made some of his father's short-game magic come to life at the Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on Sept. 4 during the first round of the American Junior Golf Association Junior Players Championship.

It wasn't "Better than Most" but it was pretty good for a 17-year-old who went on to post his best round at the course where his father, Tiger Woods, won two Players Championships

.

Charlie Woods made five birdies and four bogeys for a 1-under 71. He was tied for eighth at the time he finished shortly before 2 p.m., minutes before a weather delay suspended the first round. Woods is three shots behind leader Esteban Llorente of Colombia (4-under through 12 holes) and Giuseppe Puebla of Royal Palm Beach (3-under

through 13).

Woods, who began the first round at No. 10, was coming off birdies at Nos. 15 and 16 that offset early bogeys at the 11th and 14th holes when he walked to the tee of the 17th hole "Island Green."

Facing a 134-yard shot, with no wind and a back-right hole placement, Woods pulled his wedge a bit and for a few seconds, thought he had found the water.

But fans standing on a bank behind the hole gave a baseball umpire's "safe" signal, indicating the ball was dry.

It was, but it would be no easy shot. The ball had landed on the footpath players use to enter the green and rolled about 30 feet down. It was on short grass, and he had a good enough stance, but the ball was tight to the pin, with little room to work with.

Charlie stayed dry on the grass bridge at 17 @TPCSawgrass. Snazzy little up and down here to stay at even in the Jr Players thru 8 holes. pic.twitter.com/XSCb2g3u3M

— Adam Schupak (@AdamSchupak) September 4, 2026

Woods then chipped the ball deftly and barely onto the putting surface. It checked and rolled to within 4 feet and he made the putt for par.

Woods' father Tiger made one of the most famous shots in Players Championship history at No. 17 in the third round in 2001, when he drained a double-breaking, 60-foot putt for birdie. The feat has been dubbed the "Better than Most" putt ever since, because that was what NBC commentator Gary Koch kept saying when the ball was tracking to the hole, referring to most players being unable to get the ball close from that spot.

Tiger Woods went on to win the first of his two Players Championships that year. Charlie Woods is one of four sons of past Players winners to compete in the Junior Players, including Dru Love (Davis Love III), Tyler McCumber (Mark) and Cameron Kuchar (Matt).

Charlie Woods closed out his front nine by draining an 18-foot putt for birdie at the par-4 18th hole. At the time he made the putt, he moved into a tie for second at 1-under par.

Woods mixed birdies at Nos. 3 and 9 on the front side with bogeys at Nos. 2 and 4. His 71 marked a continued improvement in his scores with each competitive round at the Stadium Course. He tied for 31st last year with rounds of 76-75-72.

Woods will tee off at No. 1 at 10 a.m. ET in the second round on Saturday, Sept. 5. The final round is Sunday, Sept. 6.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Charlie Woods cooks up short-game magic at TPC Sawgrass in the Junior Players