Tiger Woods’ astonishing junior career sets benchmark for son Charlie and ascending FSU teammate

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As Charlie Woods counts down to the start of his college career, he doesn’t have to look very far for inspiration.The teenager took to social media this week to speak of his delight at signing on for the Florida State Seminoles in the fall of 2027.Charlie Woods and Miles Russell will team up at Florida State in 2027Tiger Woods could make a return to action alongside Charlie at the PNC ChampionshipGettyHe’ll be joined by the world’s best junior golfer after Miles Russell’s commitment in 2025 was also rubberstamped on Wednesday.In fact Russell – the number one ranked junior and No 4 ranked amateur – is already breaking Charlie’s famous father’s records, most recently with a third Junior Golfer of the Year award.Tiger Woods only managed that twice, with Phil Mickelson and Vicki Goetze the only other players to claim it three times.Woods Sr. was able to turn promise into pedigree, starting with an NCAA individual title in his sophomore year at Stanford.That is something Russell and a determined Woods Jr will have their eyes on, as well as teaming up to deliver a first team championship in Seminole history.“He said, ‘Yeah. It makes me want to go there more now,” Florida State’s 30-year coach Trey Jones recalled in an interview with the Tallahassee Democrat on Charlie’s answer when asked about Russell also committing.The program has the No. 1 ranked class for next season, a squad already being dubbed a superteam, but they’ll be following in Tiger’s remarkable youth and amateur footsteps.How good was Tiger Woods in college golf?Woods’ dominance began before he set foot in Stanford, or on the PGA Tour – winning his first Junior World Golf Championship title aged 8, in the 9-10 class.He turned that into a Junior Amateur title aged 15 in 2000, the youngest player to win that tournament until it was broken in 2010 – and also added two more Junior Amateur titles.In 1994, he won his first US Amateur title aged 18 – the youngest to do so until it was surpassed by Danny Lee in 2008 – and won two more, making him the only person to win three in succession.Tiger Woods was a three-time US Amateur championGettyWoods was on the sidelines for the Stanford football programme earlier this seasonGettyTiger Woods was an NCAA national champion in his sophomore year with StanfordGettyHis college career started with a tournament victory, and ended with an NCAA national title in the same year he won his third US Amateur.And he followed that up by turning professional after just two years at Stanford.Woods turned that talent into a resume that ranks at the very top of those to ever play the game, with 15 major titles – behind only Jack Nicklaus’ tally of 18.Charlie Woods has quite the role model to follow after Tiger’s stellar junior careerGettyThat tally includes five Masters, four PGA Championships and three US Open and Open championships, while his record of 82 PGA Tour titles ties Sam Snead for the most all-time.His maiden Masters – aged 21 – was his first as a professional, and he remains the youngest player to claim a Green Jacket, two months before he was crowned World No.1.A first Open Championship, at the home of golf – St Andrews – in 2004, made him the youngest player ever to complete the career Grand Slam of all four majorsWhen will Tiger Woods return?Tiger’s focus over the last couple of years has been off the course, as he returns to full fitness and health.But the signs are he could be back in action sooner rather than later, teasing a return to the Hero World Challenge he hosts in the Bahamas as recently as this week.On top of that, he is likely to feature on the opening night of the 2027 TGL for Jupiter Golf Club.But many eyes will be on the PNC Championship in December, when father and son could team up to improve on two runners-up finishes at the annual event in Florida.