Bhubaneswar: For the golf legend, the game has changed — and so has his role in it. At the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, Tiger Woods opened up about watching his son, 16-year-old Charlie Woods, grow into a serious junior golfer — in a world that moves at a far faster pace than the one Tiger knew growing up.
“I mean, we didn’t have cell phones… It’s just a different world,” Tiger said, pointing out how college coaches now text and send videos instantly, whereas in his youth he waited eagerly for letters in the mail.
Charlie, ranked among the top in the American Junior Golf Association for the class of 2027, has quickly attracted interest from major college programs — a process Tiger calls “very different” from his.
And while college decisions and recruiting buzz swirl around him, Charlie has also shown strong competitive form — leading The Benjamin School to victory at the Florida 1A state championship, with Tiger and his ex-wife, Elin Nordegren, watching proudly from the sidelines.
Reflecting on his evolving perspective, Tiger said it’s been “fun to be part of the process”, enjoying the joy and pride of seeing his son make his own mark on the sport.
Off the course, Tiger is juggling more than just parental pride. In October 2025 he underwent his seventh back surgery, a reminder of his own physical battles even as he supports Charlie’s rising golf journey.
In a sport shaped by constant change, one thing remains constant: a father cheering on his son — even as golf feels very different now.
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