1 Minute Ago: Charlie Woods Did the IMPOSSIBLE — PGA Stars Are Losing Their Minds

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida – February 14, 2026 – In a moment that is considered a “miracle” in modern golf history, Charlie Woods – the 16-year-old son of the legendary Tiger Woods – just did the unthinkable at the South Florida PGA Championship: a perfect round with **61 strokes** (10-under par) to win overwhelmingly and break all teenage records at this event. This round was not just a personal achievement, but drove the entire PGA Tour “crazy” – from top stars like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy to retired legends like Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els.

The South Florida PGA Championship – an event within the regional PGA Professional Championship system, bringing together local professional golfers, outstanding amateur players and some young talent – ​​has never received the global attention it has today. Charlie Woods, currently ranked highly in the AJGA (American Junior Golf Association) and invited to participate due to his impressive performance in junior tournaments, entered the final round with a 3-stroke lead after 54 holes. No one dared to believe that this 16-year-old boy could end the day with a round of 61 on PGA National’s Champion Course – a famously difficult par-70 course with deep bunkers and complex greens designed by Jack Nicklaus himself.

**Charlie’s “unbelievable” match** plays out like a Hollywood movie script:

– **Holes 1–3**: Eagle right at hole 3 (par-5) after a chip-in from about 45 yards, followed by two consecutive birdies. The crowd began to stir.- **Holes 4–9**: 4 consecutive birdies (holes 5, 6, 8, 9), of which hole 8 was a 42-foot putt that made the audience stand up and applaud loudly.- **Holes 10–14**: Maintained the match with 2 more birdies, but the pressure began to increase as the opponents behind also birdied continuously.- **Holes 15–18**: Drama really explodes. Charlie bogeyed hole 15 (first time of the day), making many people think he would “falter”. But he immediately birdied hole 16 (par-3, 192 yards long with an almost perfect approach), eagled hole 17 (par-5) after driving straight into the fairway and chipped close to the cup, then finished with birdie hole 18 to complete 61 strokes.

Total score after 72 holes: **-18 (266 strokes)** – broke the old tournament record by 5 strokes and became the youngest winner in South Florida PGA Championship history with a difference of 6 strokes. More surprising: Charlie’s round of 61 was the lowest round ever recorded by a 16-year-old golfer at any PGA Professional event.

Right after the final birdie putt on hole 18 sank in, Charlie raised his arms in the air, looked toward the stands where his mother Elin Nordegren and sister Sam were standing, and hugged his caddy and best friend. That moment was broadcast live on Golf Channel and quickly spread around the world.

**Reaction from PGA Tour stars** – almost no one can keep calm:

– **Scottie Scheffler** (World No.1): “I just watched the highlights and I couldn’t believe my eyes. 61 at age 16 on the PGA National course? He’s not just Tiger’s son – he’s a phenomenon. Congratulations Charlie, golf’s future is here.” – **Rory McIlroy**: “I watched that round three times. Swing, composure, putting – everything was perfect. Charlie Woods just reminded us all that golf is not there is an age limit. Unreal.”- **Collin Morikawa**: “When I saw him eagle hole 17, I immediately thought of Tiger at the 1997 Masters. He has his father’s DNA, but the way he controls his emotions is rare at this age.”- **Phil Mickelson**: “I’ve been playing golf since I was 14 and I’ve never seen a 16-year-old play a round like that on a course as difficult as PGA National. Charlie is not just good – he’s scary younger brother.”- **Jordan Spieth**: “When I was 16 years old, I couldn’t even dream of playing 61 in the pro tournament. Charlie just did the unthinkable. The future of American golf is very bright.”- **Justin Thomas**: “I was at home watching and shouting to myself. Crazy, Charlie.

Even retired legends spoke up. **Ernie Els** tweeted: “I saw Tiger at 15. Charlie had something more special than his father at that age – amazing composure.” **Gary Player** – who coached Tiger in his youth – called this a “historic moment”: “Golf has found a true successor.”

Tiger Woods, who was not at the tournament because he was recovering from a back injury, posted a brief but emotional status on

Charlie’s round of 61 was more than just a personal achievement. It breaks all stereotypes that “children of the family” are only good thanks to genetics and special conditions. He practiced thousands of hours on public courses, kept his own swing log, and regularly played with other young golfers without special protection from his father. Charlie’s coach at the AJGA, John Davenport, shared: “He never mentioned his father’s name in practice. He just wanted to be called Charlie – and today he did that.”

The South Florida PGA Championship has never received such global attention. The organizers said the number of livestream viewers increased 40 times compared to last year, and the hashtag #CharlieWoods61 trended No. 1 in the world for 12 consecutive hours. Major media outlets such as ESPN, Golf Channel and Sky Sports all cut off the live broadcast to replay Charlie’s entire round.

With this victory, Charlie Woods will now definitely receive an invitation to the major tournaments: U.S. Open. Amateur, Western Amateur, and even a wild card at a PGA Tour event in the near future. He has been classified as one of the “top prospects” of American golf, on par with young names like Akshay Bhatia or Michael Thorbjornsen when they were just emerging.

But most importantly, Charlie Woods has stepped out of his father’s shadow. No longer “Tiger’s son” – he’s Charlie Woods, who just made history at the age of 16. And the golf world is going crazy about it.