Charlie Woods, the 17-year-old son of Tiger Woods, will not be in the U.S. Open field after missing final qualifying at Eagle Trace Golf Club by one stroke—despite a rebound that earned him a spot in the U.S. Junior Amateur.
Charlie Woods walked away from final qualifying with one number on his mind: one stroke.
The 17-year-old—Tiger Woods’s son—did not qualify for this year’s U.S. Open, a field that is already set to be shaped by exemptions and tournament status when the 126th championship begins. First-round action is scheduled to start June 18 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York.
The U.S. Open will feature a 156-player field made up of players who meet certain exemptions. and this year there are 25 ways to earn a spot. including places for amateurs. Defending champion J.J. Spaun is in the mix, as is World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. Among the entries are winners of the 2025 U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur Championships, the 2025 U.S. Amateur runner-up, and the 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Individual Golf Champions.
That broader access is part of what made Charlie Woods’s situation stand out. His name has drawn curiosity because the elder Woods won the U.S. Open three times, with the most recent coming in 2008 at Torrey Pines.
But on the qualifying path, the margin was brutal. Last month, Woods shot an even-par 72 at Eagle Trace Golf Club in Coral Springs, Florida. He missed the final qualifying stage by one stroke and finished tied for 10th.
Then came the quick pivot—one that shows how close the U.S. Open door was, even as another opportunity opened. Woods bounced back at the U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier to earn a spot in that tournament. which is set to take place at Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem. Pennsylvania. starting July 20.
As the tournament calendar moves, his standing back in the junior ranks remains solid. Woods is currently ranked No. 14 on the Rolex American Junior Golf Association, and earlier this year he committed to playing golf at Florida State.
The sequence is sharp for anyone tracking his progress: Woods fell just short at Eagle Trace. then used the Junior Amateur route to keep his season moving forward. The U.S. Open field may still be expanding through exemptions for other players. but for Woods. the qualifying result is already settled—no start at Shinnecock Hills this summer.
Charlie Woods U.S. Open qualifying Tiger Woods Shinnecock Hills J.J. Spaun Scottie Scheffler Eagle Trace Golf Club U.S. Junior Amateur Saucon Valley Florida State