Tiger Woods beaming with pride as son Charlie Woods confirms Florida State move

Tiger Woods has broken his silence after his son Charlie Woods confirmed he will begin the next chapter of his golfing journey at Florida State University in 2027.

The 15-time major champion was quick to show his support after the 17-year-old confirmed his college decision on Instagram, making it clear he is proud to see his son forging his own path in the game.

Rather than following in his father’s footsteps to Stanford — the university synonymous with Tiger Woods' legendary amateur career — Charlie has chosen to stay closer to home in Florida and commit to the Seminoles.

Only after Charlie made his announcement did Tiger publicly respond, offering a heartfelt message beneath the post (see below): “Congratulations Charlie. I’m so proud of you on entering this next chapter of your life.”

Charlie, who celebrated his 17th birthday last weekend, shared his news with a simple but confident message on his brand new Instagram page: “Excited to announce my commitment to play golf at Florida State University — go Noles!”

YouTube golf sensation Grant Horvat also got involved in the comments by posting: “Cmon Charlie! Pumped for you.”

Charlie breaks family tradition

Stanford would have represented a direct continuation of the Woods golfing legacy, but Charlie has chosen to go down a different path. 

His father Tiger spent two seasons at Stanford before turning pro in 1996, compiling one of the most decorated collegiate careers in history. 

Woods won 11 tournaments in just two years, including eight victories in 13 starts during a remarkable 1995-96 season. That year he also captured the NCAA individual title and was named the Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year.

Tiger was a first-team All-American in both 1995 and 1996 — an honour Charlie matched last season after being named a first-team All-American by the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA).

Adding another layer to the Stanford connection, Charlie’s older sister Samantha is a freshman at the California university. 

Yet despite those family ties, Charlie has opted to build his own collegiate story in Tallahassee.

Florida State already boasts a proud golfing heritage. Five-time major champion Brooks Koepka and former United States Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger are among its most notable alumni, and the programme has consistently produced PGA Tour talent. 

Top-ranked junior Miles Russell, a two-time AJGA Player of the Year, has also enrolled at Florida State. 

Charlie Woods on the rise

Currently ranked 21st in the Rolex AJGA standings, an extraordinary leap from 604th a season earlier, Charlie has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the past 12 months.

The catalyst was his breakthrough victory at the Team TaylorMade Invitational last May, where he fired a superb 15-under-par total of 201 across 54 holes to claim his first AJGA title.

That win firmly established him as one of the most exciting prospects in American junior golf.

Charlie then followed that performance 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 final-round 4-under-par 68.

Charlie also competed in last year’s Junior PGA Championship after winning the South Florida PGA Junior Cup in 2024, further strengthening a résumé that has quickly caught the attention of college recruiters across the country.

Tiger with a helping hand

Tiger had previously spoken about enjoying being part of the college golf recruitment process, noting how dramatically it has evolved since his own experience in the mid-1990s.

“It’s fun to be a part of the process with Charlie and go through it and see the opportunities he has that he has created for himself by playing better,” Woods said ahead of December’s Hero World Challenge.

“Places he could play, wants to play, ultimately will decide where he wants to go play.

“It’s been very different. The recruiting process now, you have cell phones — we didn’t have cell phones. We had written letters that would show up in the mailbox. It was like, ‘Oh my God, I got a letter.

“It’s just very different how fast coaches can communicate with the family members and the players they’re trying to recruit. It’s just a different world. Not saying it’s good or bad, it’s just different.”

Tiger, whose own collegiate chapter became the foundation for one of the greatest careers in sporting history, has made it clear that this is Charlie’s journey to shape. 

With a simple but heartfelt message of support, he has given his son both his blessing and the freedom to forge his own legacy — and that quiet endorsement may mean more than any headline ever could.