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Charlie Woods didn't qualify for the match play bracket at the 2026 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship after falling short in a playoff featuring 14 golfers competing for two remaining spots on Wednesday, July 22. His elimination came after he endured an unfortunate disruption while playing his only hole, and video of what happened has since gone viral on social media.
The incident occurred as the 17-year-old son of Tiger Woods stood over his third shot from the thick rough on the par 5 first hole to begin the playoff at Saucon Valley's Grace Course in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. As Charlie Woods completed his back swing, the clicking sound from a camera phone taking a photo could be heard.
The ball landed on the fringe short of the green. Woods dropped his club in frustration and immediately turned toward the gallery watching him.
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"Really dude," Woods said.
"Right in his swing," said another voice heard in the video.
Woods wound up with a bogey after his birdie attempt from the fringe went past the hole. Eli Wessel, Hudson Kutchma and Leo Gao were the only golfers to advance to the second playoff hole after making birdies on the first, according to Golfweek. Wessel and Kutchma then moved on to match play, which concludes with the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship match on Saturday.
This was the closest Woods had gotten in three attempts to reaching the match-play portion the event. Woods shot an even-par 70 on Saucon Valley's Grace Course on Tuesday, July 21 to finish stroke play at the U.S. Junior Amateur at 5 over. He qualified for Wednesday's playoff on the Old Course for one of the final spots in the 64-player match-play bracket.
Woods shot 82-80 in his 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur debut at Oakland Hills and opened with an 81 last year at Trinity Forest, missing by a wide margin both times. Last week, Woods missed qualifying for next month's U.S. Amateur at Merion by six shots, shooting 76 at Ohio State's Scarlet Course.
The trophy at stake in the 2026 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship is named after Tiger Woods, who won the event a record three times (1991-93).
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Really dude': Charlie Woods frustrated by phone disruption in playoff
