Tiger Woods Trophy awaits as Charlie Woods and Miles Russell chase U.S. Junior Amateur glory

Tiger Woods will watch closely as his son Charlie Woods and Miles Russell chase the Tiger Woods Trophy at the 2026 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship starting July 20 in Colorado.

What’s happening at the U.S. Junior Amateur?

The 123rd U.S. Junior Amateur Championship tees off July 20 at The Ranch at Lost Creek in Colorado. Charlie Woods, 16, and his partner Miles Russell will battle 300 of the nation’s top junior amateurs in the two-man team event. The tournament runs through July 25, with the final round set for Sunday.

Why the Tiger Woods Trophy matters

The Tiger Woods Trophy honors the late Earl Woods’ legacy and is awarded to the championship-winning duo. Tiger Woods himself claimed the individual title in 1991 and 1992 at age 15 and 16. Charlie, now 16, carries the same number and carries the family’s competitive fire. Russell, 17, adds power off the tee and steady iron play to the pairing.

How the team format works

Teams of two play four-ball in the opening two rounds, then alternate formats into singles for the final two days. The top 32 teams make match play after the stroke-play cut. Charlie and Russell must survive the 36-hole stroke-play qualifier to advance. The duo’s chemistry and course knowledge at Lost Creek will be tested early.

What comes next for Charlie Woods

A strong showing would cap a breakthrough summer for Charlie. He won the AJGA Wyndham National Championship in June and cracked the top 100 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. A team title at the U.S. Junior Amateur would cement his status as the next phenom in Woods’ bloodline. The world will watch as the 16-year-old tries to add another family trophy to the cabinet.