With “Accolade” Tiger Woods’ son, Charlie, continues the family legacy with a prestigious golf accolade.

Tiger Woods: Charlie Woods has now earned a prestigious honor alongside his famous father, Tiger Woods, after receiving a major junior golf recognition this week.

At 16, Charlie, the son of Tiger and his ex-wife Elin Nordegren, was named a first-team All-American by the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) on Wednesday.

A high school junior at the prestigious Benjamin School, Charlie was one of 12 boys selected for the AJGA’s annual first-team list.

This accolade caps off an impressive year for Charlie, who claimed his first major title at the Team TaylorMade Invitational in May.

He also qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur for the second consecutive year in July and finished tied for ninth at the Junior PGA Championship the following month.

READ MORE : Charlie Woods sparks another big team win for The Benjamin

With this recognition, Charlie continues to follow in the footsteps of his legendary father. Tiger Woods, who was named to the first-team All-American list in all four years of high school, set a similar path before going on to dominate the professional game.

In 1991 and 1992, Tiger was also named the AJGA’s Player of the Year in back-to-back years, a feat matched this year by 17-year-old Miles Russell. Russell, an alternate for the Walker Cup this summer, was named Player of the Year again by the AJGA.

Meanwhile, Cameron Kuchar, son of pro golfer Matt Kuchar, earned a spot on the second team, joining Mason Howell, who won the U.S. Amateur and competed in the Walker Cup.

Aphrodite Deng, a Canadian living in New Jersey, was named Player of the Year in the girls’ division after winning the U.S. Girls Junior and two other major AJGA events this year.

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The teams were determined based on the Rolex AJGA Rankings as of October 14.

Charlie’s year has been marked by hard work both on and off the course. His high school coach, Toby Harbeck, highlighted Charlie’s dedication, including a significant 10-pound weight loss.

“Charlie knows the attention is on him, but he knows how to handle it and not put himself in uncomfortable situations,” said Harbeck, who also coached Jack Nicklaus’ sons. “His teammates are very protective of him. He’s come a long way in two years, and he’s ready to take on that No. 1 role.”

Charlie is currently in his junior year at the exclusive $37k-a-year Benjamin School in Palm Beach, where Kai Trump, the granddaughter of President Donald Trump, is also a senior. Earlier this year, Tiger Woods went public with his relationship with Kai’s mother, Vanessa, the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr.

Tiger Woods has been a regular presence at Charlie’s tournaments, often attending with his ex-wife Elin. Harbeck noted, “When Tiger and Elin show up to watch, Tiger is a different person than what you see on TV. Just like Jack [Nicklaus] was.”

The End of an Era: Tiger Woods Makes a Shocking Move With Son Charlie.

For the last five years, Tiger Woods and his son Charlie Woods have turned the PNC Championship into one of golf’s most beloved family events

Since 2020, the pair have competed side by side, blending fierce competition with lighthearted teamwork that has captivated fans. But as December approaches, that tradition is now in jeopardy following Tiger’s latest round of medical advice.

The 15-time major winner, who has undergone seven back surgeries, recently had a lumbar disc replacement in October 2025.

The procedure came just months after an Achilles tendon surgery in March. Though Woods has long been known for his resilience, doctors now caution that his body needs a prolonged recovery period before he can safely return to the course, even for a lighthearted event like the PNC

Medical concerns threaten Tiger’s comeback

During an interview with EssentiallySports, Dr. Nitin Bhatia, chair of orthopedics at UCI Health at the University of California, Irvine, discussed the physical toll golf can take on athletes, especially those with a history of back problems.

While explaining how golf may have aggravated LeBron James‘ sciatica, Bhatia’s comments indirectly revealed why Woods is unlikely to compete in the upcoming family event.

“For the athletes that we take care of, when they’re back toward playing another sport and recover with or without surgery, we tell them that even if they feel 100%, that we don’t let them golf for another three months,” Bhatia explained. “My guess is once he gets back, he’ll hold back from golfing until the offseason. You don’t want to irritate that nerve again.”

The veteran doctor went on to describe how golf, unlike many other sports, places enormous strain on the lower back. “Golfing is very hard on the lower back and has very high torque. That is something that can certainly irritate nerves,” he added.

Given that Tiger only underwent surgery weeks ago, a three-month rest period would rule him out for the December event. It’s a sobering reality for a player whose entire swing is built on power, flexibility, and rhythm – all of which depend on a healthy spine.

Since their debut at the 2020 PNC Championship, Tiger and Charlie have become the tournament’s biggest attraction. Their chemistry and matching mannerisms have drawn huge crowds and TV ratings. Even though they haven’t claimed the title yet, their performances have come close.

At the 2024 edition, they finished second at 28-under par, just behind Bernhard Langer and his son, after posting impressive rounds of 13-under and 15-under.

For Tiger, those weekends have meant more than trophies. He has often said that playing with Charlie is the most rewarding experience of his golf career outside of the professional circuit. The event has also offered fans a rare glimpse of a softer side to one of sport’s most intense competitors.