Charlie Woods concluded his participation in the Junior PGA Championship in a tie for ninth place, eliminating his chances for a qualifying spot on the U.S. Junior Ryder Cup team. The 16-year-old son of golf legend Tiger Woods entered the final round at the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex in West Lafayette, Indiana, tied for second after impressive back-to-back rounds of 66. However, a disappointing final round of 74, which included three bogeys and a double bogey over his last ten holes, saw him finish the tournament at 9 under par.
The Junior Ryder Cup, scheduled for September 23-25, 2023, will be hosted at Bethpage Black and Nassau Country Club, coinciding with the senior Ryder Cup event featuring Team USA and Team Europe. While there is one captain’s pick available for the team, Woods is unlikely to be considered for this selection given his recent performance.
Lunden Esterline emerged as the dominant winner of the Junior PGA Championship, finishing with a remarkable score of 19 under par (totaling 266), which included a spectacular second-round score of 62. Giuseppe Puebla surged into contention with a final-round score of 64, earning him a tie for second place at 13 under alongside Tyler Mawhinney, who shot 69. Puebla’s performance secured him the other automatic qualifying spot for the Junior Ryder Cup, while Mawhinney’s finish solidified his strong showing in the tournament.
Esterline, hailing from Andover, Kansas, has committed to play at Auburn University in 2027, while Puebla, from Royal Palm Beach, Florida, remains uncommitted for college but is also part of the Class of 2027. Woods, despite his challenges in the final round, finished ten strokes behind Esterline and four strokes short of the Ryder Cup qualifying position.
As the Junior Ryder Cup approaches, the focus will now shift to the selected team members and their preparations for the prestigious event, where young golfers will showcase their skills on an international stage.
