Charlie Woods, one of the most high-profile figures in junior golf for obvious reasons —but also on his own merits— has already made one of the key decisions of his sporting career: he will play college golf at Florida State starting in the autumn of 2027. The player himself announced it on Instagram this Tuesday.
Woods, currently in his penultimate year at The Benjamin School (Florida), is ranked 21st in the Rolex AJGA Ranking, and recently added to his record with a victory at the AJGA Team TaylorMade Invitational. Additionally, his school was crowned state champion last autumn, with a 68 from Charlie as the best scorecard of the team at the crucial moment.
A heavy surname… and a path he wants to make his own
Being a “Woods” puts you in the spotlight from the moment you pick up a club, but Tiger‘s son has long been building a competitive profile that goes beyond the label. His presence alongside his father at the PNC Championship has become a regular occurrence, except for last year, with that second place in 2021, a perfect showcase for the general public, although Charlie’s real work is in the day-to-day of the American junior circuit.
In fact, Tiger hinted a few months ago, during the Hero World Challenge, how he was experiencing the process: “It’s fun to be part of the journey with Charlie… to see the opportunities he has created by playing better and, ultimately, deciding where he wants to go.”
A destination that ‘produces’ PGA Tour players
The choice of Florida State is no coincidence. The programme led by Trey Jones has established itself as a factory for players who manage to reach the highest level. In its recent history, Brooks Koepka and Daniel Berger appear, and currently, the team continues to add emerging talent: last season, it finished ninth in the NCAA Championship, just one stroke away from entering the ‘match play’ phase.
And here comes another key fact: Charlie will not arrive alone. His generation coincides with that of the Number One junior, Miles Russell, who already announced his commitment to Florida State last summer. A combination that, on paper, makes the Seminoles one of the main focuses of college golf in the medium term.
What now?
It is worth emphasising: this is a verbal commitment, not a definitive signing. The calendar marks the next milestone in November, when the official signing day arrives. Until then, there is a lot of junior golf, much physical and technical evolution —and, of course, a lot of external pressure—. But the decision is already made: Charlie Woods has chosen the college path and has chosen Florida State as the starting point.
