On a crisp February evening in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Tiger Woods and his ex-wife, Elin Nordegren, put aside the past and stood side by side to celebrate a new chapter for their son, Charlie Woods. The occasion? The Benjamin School boys golf team’s state championship ring ceremony, a moment that brought together not just a family, but the echoes of golfing greatness and new beginnings.
Charlie Woods, now 17, has been making waves in the junior golf world, and this ceremony marked yet another milestone in his burgeoning career. The Benjamin School team clinched the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 1A State Championship in November 2025—a victory that marked the school’s fifth overall and first since 2023. On February 24, 2026, the team gathered to honor their triumph, but it was Charlie, the top seed and driving force behind the win, who took center stage.
As cameras flashed and applause filled the gym, Tiger and Elin flanked their son on stage. Tiger, 50, sported a navy sport jacket and white shirt, his look business casual but unmistakably proud. Elin, 46, donned a navy and orange team sweatshirt and leggings, representing the school colors with understated flair. Charlie, medal gleaming around his neck, wore a navy championship shirt, shorts, and glasses—a portrait of youthful confidence.
The family posed for photos, their smiles a testament to how far they’ve come since the turbulent days of 2010, when Tiger and Elin’s marriage ended in a highly publicized cheating scandal. Yet, as Tiger once told Time magazine, “Having the relationship that I have now with her is fantastic. She’s one of my best friends. We’re able to pick up the phone, and we talk to each other all the time. We both know that the most important things in our lives are our kids.”
That united front was on full display at the ring ceremony. Even as the world still links Charlie to his father’s legendary career, nights like this prove that he’s carving out his own path. In May 2025, Charlie captured his first American Junior Golf Association title at the Team TaylorMade Invitational, then followed it up with a ninth-place finish at the Junior PGA Championship later that summer. His steady climb has been marked by consistent improvement, not just flashes of inherited talent.
And the journey is just beginning. On February 10, 2026, Charlie excitedly announced his commitment to play college golf at Florida State University starting in the fall of 2027. “Excited to announce my commitment to play golf at Florida State University—go Noles!” he posted on Instagram. Tiger replied with a simple but heartfelt, “Congratulations Charlie. I’m so proud of you on entering this next chapter of your life.”
The Woods family’s passion for golf is a thread that runs deep. Tiger and Charlie have shared the course in public competition, most notably at the 2024 PNC Championship, where Charlie made his first hole-in-one. Tiger told NBC Sports, “It’s one of the highlights that we’ve ever had. We were talking on the hole previous, he made his first eagle. And now he just made his first hole-in-one. It was a magical two hole stretch. I’m just so happy for him and for the enjoyment that we had as a family.”
Charlie’s older sister, Sam Woods, 18, has also been part of the family’s golfing adventures, serving as Tiger’s caddy in 2023. Their mother, Elin, is now in a relationship with former NFL player Jordan Cameron, and Tiger is currently linked to Vanessa Trump. Despite the changes in their personal lives, Tiger and Elin remain committed co-parents, showing up together for their children’s milestones.
The ring ceremony was more than just a celebration of a state championship—it was a symbol of resilience and growth, both for Charlie and his family. The Benjamin School’s win in November 2025 was no small feat. Charlie, as the team’s top seed, played a pivotal role in securing the title, leading his teammates with poise and determination. The championship ring he received on February 24 is a tangible reminder of his dedication and the support system that surrounds him.
For Tiger, the ceremony came on the heels of a personal update regarding his own athletic future. After undergoing another back surgery and dealing with a ruptured Achilles, Tiger addressed reporters ahead of the 2026 Genesis Invitational. When asked if he had ruled out playing in the Masters in April, he responded with a succinct, “No.” Reflecting on his recovery, Tiger shared, “I’m trying [to come back], put it that way. The disc replacement has been one thing. It’s been a challenge to—I’ve had a fused back and now a disc replacement, so it’s challenging. The Achilles was not an issue. I can’t dunk a basketball anymore, so I don’t have to worry about that.”
As Charlie prepares for his collegiate career at Florida State, the comparisons to his father are inevitable. Tiger famously played at Stanford before turning professional, and he’s spoken about how the recruiting process has changed over the years. “It’s been very different, the recruiting process. Now, you have cellphones. We didn’t have cellphones. We would have written letters that would show up in the mailbox. It’s just very different how fast coaches can communicate with the family members and the player that they’re trying to recruit. It’s just a different world. Not saying it’s good or bad, it’s just different,” Tiger told ESPN in December 2025.
But Charlie’s path is uniquely his own. With a state championship, junior golf titles, and a college commitment under his belt, he’s stepping out from his father’s shadow and into the spotlight. The ring ceremony at The Benjamin School was a moment to savor—one that showcased not just a talented young golfer, but a family’s ability to come together, cheer one another on, and look toward the future with hope and pride.
As the applause faded and the Woods family left the stage, the message was clear: the next chapter for Charlie Woods is just beginning, with his family—united and supportive—walking right beside him every step of the way.