Perhaps nothing in golf is more difficult than trying to qualify for the U.S. Open.
The United States Golf Association (USGA) accepted over 10,000 entries into this year’s qualifiers, all of which are professional players or amateurs who carry a handicap index of 0.4 or better.
That includes Charlie Woods, son of Tiger Woods, who tried to qualify for his first major championship on Thursday at one of the 109 local qualifying sites in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The younger Woods, who helped his high school team win the Florida State Championship this past fall, has the game to compete and play. He has demonstrated that at the PNC Championship, too.
Unfortunately for the high school freshman, he did not have his best stuff on Thursday and will not advance past the first local qualifying stage. Woods carded a 9-over 81 at The Legacy Golf & Tennis Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida, making three double-bogies that helped seal his fate. He finished in a tie for 61st in a field of 89 players.
Only five players advance from Port St. Lucie to one of the final 10 qualifying sites in late May and early June.
Last year, the USGA staged 10 final qualifiers that featured 645 players competing across the country. Only 45 made it to the Los Angeles Country Club—or 6.9% of those who made it to the final stage—and many compete on the PGA Tour or LIV Golf.
Woods faced a tall task of trying to make it to the U.S. Open, but he most certainly gained valuable experience Thursday.
At the very least, he bested Cameron Kuchar, son of Matt Kuchar, by a stroke on Thursday at The Legacy Golf & Tennis Club. The younger Woods now holds some bragging rights over the younger Kuchar.
All jokes aside, these two young up-and-comers will more than likely run it back in 2025. By then, they will have more experience under their belts and fewer butterflies in their stomachs. But who knows? Perhaps they will defy the odds and make it all the way to Oakmont, which will host a record 10th U.S. Open next year.
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.
