Son Charlies Needs Make Tiger Woods Shrug Off Royal Troon Failure as Scary USGA Challenge Awaits
True love is selfless. And golfs most loved father-son duo would agree. Despite having another missed-cut nightmare come true at Royal Troon, Tiger Woodss determination to be present for his son goes undeterred. In a true act of selflessness, Father Woods has declared his plans to take a flight to the Detroit area. But why?
Well, the reason is Charlie Woods. The young prodigy is set to tee it up at the U.S. Junior Amateur at Oakland Hills from July 22 to July 27. This would be his USGA debut and a big milestone in his career. After all, a win at Oakland Hills will help Junior Woods come closer to achieving the glory his father has achieved.
While the 48-year-old could not fulfill his own dreams to add a sixteenth trie to his Sun Day Red logo this season, he plans not to miss his sons big day. This event was also the reason why Charlie was not present to coach his father at Royal Troon like he was at the Masters and the US Open.
One thing is certain: The 48-year-old will be there for his son, no matter what. It seems that the loving father plans to support his son and help him practice before the big day. After all, Woods takes his time with his 15-year-old seriously. This is also evident in his reaffirmation of his probable plans to partake in the PNC Championship in the months to come. As of now what is confined is his presence at the Hero World Challenge in December.
It seems the roles have finally reversed. Senior Woods will now get the time to play coach for his son. After all, Charlie has some big shoes to fill. With his fathers help and years of experience, the scary challenge might ease up. But theres one more person who plays a major role in helping this young prodigy polish his game, and thats his high school golf coach, Toby Harbeck. So what does he think of the week to come?
Toby Harbecks view on the father-son duo
Charlies golf coach is probably the best source to expand on the golfing relationship between this father-son duo. After years of watching the two together, Harbeck has a fair opinion on Senior Woodss role as a father and role model.
Describing this different shade of the 48-year-old with his son, Harbeck said, Getting to know Tiger a little bit last year like I did. He is very non-pressured with Charlie, if Charlie wants to learn how to do something or play better or whatever. He goes to dad and says, Hey, you know, I want to do this or I want to do that, and then Tiger absolutely takes him under his wing, to help him become better. Tiger is not Tiger Woods. Tiger is Dad and thats the way we treat him when hes out watching, he just wants to be a parent. Elin (Nordegren, Charlies mom) and Tiger have been a great support for Charlie.
Appreciative of the Woodss parenting style, Harbeck also thinks Charlie has got what it takes to win his USGA debut. In his opinion, I think hes got the capability to win it. The goal Ive always set for my kids at the U.S. Junior and U.S. Amateur, if they can get there, is to get to the match play, so match play will probably (be) the top 64. If he hit the match play, that is a heck of an accomplishment. Hes got the capability to win it. I mean, Charlie can shoot low, he can shoot real low. If he gets it going, he can go low, hes just got to stay away from making consecutive bogeys or doubles or a bogey and double or a bogey and a triple or something like that. Hell be fine.
While he is assured of the 15-year-olds capabilities, the only problem he feels this youngster has to ward off is compounding mistakes. After all, he has Tiger Woods to look up to, who secured six consecutive USGA titles, with three U.S. Junior Am championships, and three straight wins in the U.S. Amateur as a youth. The tough challenge at the Oakland Hills historic course will put Charlie Woods to a never-seen-before test. Only time will tell how this young cub fares.