Charlie Woods is charting his own course. The talented son of golf legend Tiger Woods has been making headlines, for his skills at times, and sometimes for missing cuts. However, recently it’s not his game but the college plans that have become a topic of interest. Golf fans assume Woods Jr. would naturally follow his father’s path to Stanford University. However, a revealing insight from his coach at The Benjamin School suggests otherwise.
According to Toby Harbeck, the 15-year-old golfer has already indicated that he’s not interested in attending Stanford. In a surprising departure from family tradition, Charlie Woods is instead drawn to schools in the Southeast, Harbeck revealed. With college still three-plus years away, this early indication of his preferences has sparked curiosity about his future in golf.
However, as Woods Jr. boldly forges his own path, the golf world is excited. Currently, it seems his college plans are shrouded in mystery. But one thing is clear: Charlie Woods is poised to write his own story, separate from his father’s illustrious legacy. “Our biggest thing that we’ve tried to teach him is that we want Charlie to be Charlie. We don’t want Charlie to be Tiger,” said the Benjamin High School coach. Embracing the challenge of being a trailblazer, he is proving that his own unique journey is worth watching.
This newfound attention is no surprise, given Woods Jr.’s flourishing talent. In the meantime, he has already cultivated a devoted following. His coach, Toby Harbeck, witnessed the growing popularity of the 19-year-old firsthand. Recalling a telling anecdote, he noted as per Golf.com, “When I returned to school after the state championship in November 2023, I found four letters for Charlie in my mailbox. People wanting stuff signed and sent back to them.”
The coach couldn’t resist poking fun at Charlie’s newfound fame during the team’s end-of-season awards dinner, days later. With a chuckle, Harbeck exclaimed, “I’m not in charge of your fan club anymore. You need to find somebody else to do that.” Well, it’s his golf game and skills that have attained him a flock of fans. The coach raves about Woods Jr.’s game: “He can bomb it out there 300-plus in a heartbeat.” The 15-year-old’s swing is packed with power, defying his 5-foot-6 frame, he noted.
Additionally, off the course, Charlie Woods’ calm, reserved nature, and sharp intellect get praised. Harbeck said. “He’s the kind of kid that when you tell him something once, you don’t have to tell him again; the point’s been made. He knows.” But as he faces comparisons to his illustrious father, Tiger Woods’s approach to their relationship reveals a thoughtful and intentional parenting style.
Balancing legacy and parenthood, Tiger Woods’s supportive stance
Tiger Woods‘s parenting philosophy takes a refreshing turn when it comes to his 15-year-old son. Rather than leveraging his golf expertise, Woods deliberately stepped back from coaching his son. That mindful approach stems from his own experiences with his father, Earl Woods. It was his father’s intense coaching and mentorship that shaped the 48-year-old’s golfing career. But their relationship was also marred by criticism for being overly demanding.
Determined to avoid replicating that dynamic, Woods prioritizes his son’s enjoyment and autonomy. “I don’t want him to fall into that trap,” he emphasized, highlighting his desire to strike a healthier balance between guidance and freedom.
Last year, as Charlie Woods’ golf career gained momentum, coach Harbeck recalled a telling exchange with the 82-times PGA Tour champ. During one of Woods Jr.’s games, Woods Sr approached him, seeking guidance on how to support his son. “He came up to me and said, ‘Coach, what can I do? What can I not do?’” To which he advised, “You can talk to him between holes.” Woods asked, “How close can I get?” Harbeck replied, “As close as you want, just don’t step into the fairway.”
This lighthearted conversation revealed Tiger Woods’s humility and willingness to navigate the fine line between being supportive and overbearing as a golfing parent.
