Charlie Woods snubs Stanford legacy as he commits to Florida State

Charlie Woods has made one of the most significant decisions of his young golfing career.

The son of 15-time major champion Tiger Woods has verbally committed to play collegiate golf at Florida State, confirming he will join the Seminoles as part of their 2027 recruiting class.

Currently a junior at The Benjamin School in Palm Beach, Florida, Charlie Woods has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the junior rankings over the past year. He now sits 21st in the Rolex American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) standings, a remarkable jump from 604th just months earlier.

That surge was sparked by a breakthrough victory at the Team TaylorMade Invitational last May, where Woods fired rounds totalling 15-under-par 201 over 54 holes to claim his first AJGA title. The win firmly established him as one of the most exciting prospects in American junior golf.

Woods backed that performance up with a tied-ninth finish at the Boys Junior PGA Championship in July and a tie for 18th at the prestigious Rolex Tournament of Champions in November. 

He also played a pivotal role in helping The Benjamin School secure the Florida High School Athletic Association Class A state title, closing with an impressive 4-under-par 68 in the final round.

Last season, Charlie matched his father's own feat of the 90s in being named a first-team All-American by the AJGA. 

Tiger Woods, who has won 15 career majors and a record-tying 82 PGA Tour titles, was a first-team All-American in both 1995 and 1996.

By choosing Florida State, Woods has opted to forge his own collegiate path rather than follow in the footsteps of his famous father. 

Tiger famously spent two seasons at Stanford before turning professional in 1996, while Charlie’s older sister Sam is currently a freshman at the California-based university.

In just two seasons at Stanford, Tiger enjoyed a remarkable collegiate career, matching a school record with 11 tournament victories. 

Tiger's 1996 season was particularly outstanding, winning eight times in just 13 starts. 

He was also crowned NCAA individual champion in 1996, and honoured as the Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year.

Speaking about the modern recruiting landscape, Tiger recently highlighted how dramatically the process has changed.

“It’s been very different, the recruiting process,” Woods said at the Hero World Challenge in December. 

“Now, you have cell phones. We didn’t have cell phones. We would have written letters that would show up in the mailbox. It’s just very different how fast coaches can communicate with the family members and the player that they’re trying to recruit.

“It’s just a different world. Not saying it’s good or bad, it’s just different.”

Charlie will join a Florida State programme led by long-time head coach Trey Jones, who is about to begin his 23rd season in Tallahassee. 

Jones has already secured a commitment from Miles Russell, the current No.1 ranked player in the AJGA rankings, making the Seminoles’ future roster one of the strongest in college golf.

Florida State finished runner-up at the 2024 NCAA Championships and boasts a rich recent history, having produced major champions and PGA Tour stars including Brooks Koepka and Daniel Berger.

For Charlie, a commitment to Florida State in 2027 represents a defining moment — and the next step in a rapidly accelerating golfing journey that continues to attract global attention.