Tiger Woods’ son Charlie shows attitude as his coach’s four-word remark is proven wrong

Charlie Woods has come on leaps and bounds in a short space of time, responding to his coach’s previous comments in the best way possible after a breakthrough win this week

Tiger Woods’ son, Charlie, turned his coach’s critique into a positive in his latest tournament(Image: Getty Images)

Add ‘quick learner’ to Charlie Woods’ list of strengths after the prodigious prospect seems to be disproving one critique from his high school coach. The up-and-coming son of golf great Tiger earned the biggest win of his career to date when he clinched the Team TaylorMade Invitational on Wednesday.

Woods Jr, 16, recovered from a faltering first round on the Black Course at Streamsong Resort to celebrate a special triumph. And it was at least partially thanks to the words of coach Toby Harbeck that he looked the best he has in competition to date.

On one hand, it can be a rare thing when a golfer is willing to accept criticism, never mind pointing it out themselves. But on the other, a negative mindset and being too focused on what you’re doing wrong can have a detrimental effect.

Woods’ Benjamin School coach, Harbeck, previously suggested the youngster can be too critical of himself. The comment was a backhanded compliment in that he saw the same trait in his dad, but the same characteristic can be a burden when in the extreme.

“He’s tough on himself,” said Harbeck in November last year. “If he could just relax and play, store some of that energy, it’s good. He’s just young. He’s got a lot of Dad in him.”

And Charlie appears to have taken those words to heart if his latest performance is anything to go by. Woods Jr looked fancy-free as he played to his potential in the Team TaylorMade Invitational

Woods’ tendency to critique himself has earned him even more comparisons to his dad(Image: Getty Images)

“I didn’t look at the leaderboard once today,” he said after his final-round 66 on Wednesday. “On the fairway after hitting the green on 18, he’s [Woods’ caddie] like, ‘You make par here, you’re going to be fine.’”

The rising star finished on 15-under overall, three strokes clear of runner-up Willie Gordon in what was a breakthrough performance. And it goes to show the effect of not putting too much emphasis on any one display.

Golf is a highly pressurized environment at the best of times, with few sports matching it in terms of individual intensity. That’s without taking into account the additional burden Charlie will inevitably feel as a result of his father’s legacy.

But as he prepares to field recruitment offers from college teams as of this summer, fans may be looking at a new-and-improved version. And it all comes down to giving himself the freedom to play to his fullest.

While being the son of golf royalty has its privileges, Charlie also has a heavy weight to bear(Image: AP)

Woods Jr has earned widespread plaudits for his response in light of his maiden Amateur Junior Golf Association (AJGA) title. And it’s apparent the teenager is maturing both on and off the course.

That shadow of having a 15-time major champion as the bar to beat will still loom large over the youngster. But only through competition will Charlie discover the process he needs to have a hope in challenging for the Woods family throne.

Still almost a year away from his 17th birthday, there’s plenty of room left to grow. And judging by the progress he has made in the past six months alone, there’s hope the family dynasty may yet have produced another superstar-in-the-making.