Charlie Woods Stuns Golf World, Snubs Stanford for Shocking Florida State Commitment
Charlie Woods, the 16-year-old son of golf legend Tiger Woods, has officially committed to play college golf at Florida State University, setting the stage for one of the most anticipated collegiate golf careers in recent memory. The announcement, made on February 10, 2026, puts to rest months of speculation about where the highly ranked junior would take his talents after a meteoric rise through the junior golf ranks.
Woods, currently a junior at The Benjamin School in Palm Beach, Florida, is ranked No. 21 in the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) rankings and is the No. 9 player in the Class of 2027. His commitment to Florida State, a program that finished runner-up in the 2024 NCAA Championship and boasts a history of producing PGA Tour stars, marks a significant milestone not just for the Seminoles but for collegiate golf as a whole.
“Excited to announce my commitment to play golf at Florida State University — go Noles!” Woods shared enthusiastically with his followers on Instagram, confirming a decision that had been the subject of intense recruiting rumors and national media attention for months.
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Woods’ journey to this moment has been anything but ordinary. While he grew up in the shadow of his father’s legendary career—Tiger Woods won 15 major championships and starred at Stanford before turning professional—Charlie has carved out his own path. Rather than follow in his father’s West Coast footsteps, Charlie chose to stay in his home state, a decision that surprised many but delighted Florida State fans.
His rise through the junior golf ranks has been nothing short of spectacular. In March 2025, Woods was ranked No. 838 in the AJGA rankings. Just two months later, after capturing the Team TaylorMade Invitational, an AJGA event, he soared more than 500 spots to crack the top 25. That victory, paired with a top-10 finish at the Junior PGA Championship in the summer of 2025 and a tie for 19th at the Junior Orange Bowl International Championship in January 2026, solidified his status as one of the nation’s top junior golfers.
Woods’ performance at the high school level has been equally impressive. In November 2025, he shot a team-best 4-under 68 in the final round of the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 1A state championship at Mission Inn, leading The Benjamin School to its second state title in three years. Seminoles head coach Trey Jones was on hand to witness the performance, fueling speculation that Woods would soon join the program.
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“It’s fun to be a part of the process with Charlie and go through it and see where the opportunities that he has that he has created for himself by playing better, places that he could play, wants to play and ultimately we’ll decide where he wants to go play,” Tiger Woods said in December 2025, reflecting on his son’s growth and the family’s approach to the college decision.
The recruiting process for Woods was intense, with several top programs in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Southeastern Conference (SEC) vying for his commitment. Stanford, where his father starred and his sister Sam currently attends, was widely considered a frontrunner. Alabama also made a strong push, but ultimately, Woods opted to stay close to home and join a Florida State program on the rise.
Woods will not be alone in Tallahassee. He joins a 2027 recruiting class that already features Miles Russell, the No. 1 ranked junior in the AJGA Rolex Rankings. The duo is expected to form a dynamic partnership for the Seminoles, who have made NCAA match play in two of the last three seasons and are hungry for their first national title.
Florida State’s men’s golf program, led by head coach Trey Jones—recently inducted into the Golf Coaches Association of America’s Hall of Fame—has a storied history of developing top talent. Notable alumni include five-time major winner Brooks Koepka, Daniel Berger, Luke Clanton, and 1993 PGA Championship winner Paul Azinger. Jones has guided the Seminoles to four top-five NCAA finishes, including their best-ever runner-up in 2024, and continues to build one of the nation’s most formidable programs.
