Tiger Woods' secret weapon at the 2024 US Open? His son Charlie Woods

PINEHURST, N.C. — Fifteenth major champion Tiger Woods has a 15-year-old as his eyes and ears this week at 124^th US Open at Pinehurst No. 2 – son Charlie.

“I think having Charlie here is very special. To have the father-son relationship that we have and extend it into this part of both of our lives, he plays a lot of junior golf, and I still play here,” Tiger said.

Charlie has been on the ropes and in the booth with a player support badge, making him the closest thing Tiger has to an official coach.

“As far as his responsibilities are concerned, it’s the same. I trust him with my swing and my game. He's seen it more than anyone in the world. He’s seen me hit more golf balls than anyone,” Tiger said of playing Charlie. “I tell him what to look for, especially when it comes to putting. He gave me some little details today, which was great, because I'm so focused on hitting certain putts on certain pins that I tend to forget some of the things I'm working on.

Pictures: Tiger Woods at the 2024 US Open at Pinehurst No. 2

Tiger, a three-time US Open champion, played a practice round on Tuesday with Max Homa and 25-year-old Australian pro Min Woo Lee with Charlie by his side every step of the way.

“It’s awesome for him to see the guys he watches on TV and YouTube and TikTok, whatever they’re doing,” Tiger said. “He was very excited today to watch Max and Min Woo and see them hit golf balls. They talked to him a lot, especially him and Min Woo. I think they're closer in age than I am to anyone else. It's good. It's great for us to be able to share these moments together.

Tiger, 48, has not competed since missing the cut last month at the PGA Championship with a 36-hole total of 7-over 149. In his last 22 starts at majors, he has missed the cut 10 times and withdrew twice. Nonetheless, he expressed confidence that his body is getting stronger from the injuries sustained in the February 2021 car crash and that he is capable of wrestling this week.

“Yes,” he said. “I feel like I have the strength to be able to do it. It's just about doing it.

“This golf course is going to test every aspect of your game, especially mental, and just the mental discipline it takes to play on this particular golf course, it's going to take a lot.”

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Woods finished T-3 at Pinehurst in 1999 and second in 2005, but missed the 2014 U.S. Open here. He said it was the first time he had returned since the famous Donald Ross layout underwent a restoration by Coore-Crenshaw ahead of the 2014 Open won by Martin Kaymer. In preparation for the course's turtleback greens, Woods spent more time at home with his putter, but said there was only so much it could do.

“Nothing can simulate what we have here this week in particular, the amount of short shots, the buttons and flows, and either the use of wedges, or long irons, or woods around the greens, or even d 'a putter,' he said. “There are so many different shots that you really can't simulate unless you get on the property. That's one of the reasons I came here last Tuesday.

How difficult will the greens be? “It depends on how serious the USGA wants to make this and how much they want to bring us closer to those sides,” he said. “But I plan, like in 2005, to watch some guys play ping-pong back and forth. It could happen.”

Woods will also receive the USGA's highest honor, the Bob Jones Award, in a ceremony Tuesday evening. Tiger and Jones both won nine USGA titles, sharing the record for most USGA championships. Tiger would like nothing more than to break this tie and become the first to reach double digits.

“I think any time you’re associated with Mr. Jones, it’s always amazing,” Tiger said. “What he did in his amateur career, winning the Ams and the Open and then obviously creating Augusta National, the fact that I have the chance to be honored with his award tonight, it’s very special .”