Coming from a sports industry, the pressure comes in handy. And competition? Well, that’s the nature of sports. Speaking of which, no one—literally no one—is spared from the pressure of being at the top; even Tiger Woods‘s son Charlie Woods. You see, Charlie has always had big shoes to fill. What makes it even tougher is the fierce competition from his peers, many of whom are growing faster, playing better, and winning more.

This year, Charlie started strong, but his performances were, well, pretty ordinary. He missed qualifying for his first PGA Tour event, the Cognizant Classic, and failed to make a mark at the US Open or win the US Amateur, something his father did with ease. Naturally, this raised questions about his future in golf. But Charlie isn’t one to back down. Slowly, he found his rhythm again.

Charlie’s 78 and 73 in first and second rounds at the State Championship were not enough to help Buccanneers defend its title. He shot 5 birdies, and 6 bogeys in the second round, making it was clear he had talent, but it is also clear that his peers, like rising star Miles Russell, are moving at a faster pace.

Russell’s rise has been nothing short of spectacular. The 15-year-old is leaving his mark on the junior golf scene. Russell added another victory to his growing list of achievements. The latest? His third massive feat at the Rolex Tournament of Champions, where he posted a 13-under-par 275, marking his second career AJGA Invitational victory.

The win came on the heels of his 2023 Rolex Junior Player of the Year award, and it’s no surprise. Russell’s performance in the final round, where he shot a bogey-free 7-under-par 65, showed that he’s in top form. After the round, Russell admitted, “To play against the top junior golfers in the world makes it pretty amazing. I played well all week, and I was happy to have a strong final round today.”

Indeed, this 15-year-old seems unstoppable, leaving no stone unturned.

Miles Russell is proving to be a dominating force in junior golf

When you compare the careers of young golfers like Charlie Woods and Miles Russell, it’s clear they’re on different trajectories. While Woods had a rocky start this year, finding his stride toward the end, Russell has been nothing short of spectacular from the start.

With back-to-back powerful performances, Russell has been making waves in the golf world. Take his debut on the Korn Ferry Tour, for example, where he made history by becoming the youngest golfer to make the cut, followed that up with his impressive showing at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. If that’s impressive already, he is the youngest winner of both the Junior PGA Championship and the Junior PLAYERS and has now added the third win to his resume.

And he didn’t slow down. He took his game to the LECOM Suncoast Classic, where he finished tied for 20th, making him the youngest player to break into the top 25 in a PGA Tour-sanctioned event. At just 15, that’s huge.

While his golfing skills are something worth the appreciation, it’s also earning him some serious deals. He’s already signed on with major brands like Transcend Capital Advisors, TaylorMade, and Nike through NIL agreements, making him one of the most marketable young players in the game.

Looking ahead, the competition’s only going to get tougher. Russell is set to go head-to-head with some big names in the upcoming US Amateur Championship, including Trevor Gutschewski, son of PGA Tour veteran Scott Gutschewski, and John Daly II, son of the legendary John Daly. With a field like that, the tournament is shaping up to be one of the most exciting events of the year, and Russell will undoubtedly be one of the top players to watch.

And as the tournament nears, one thing’s for sure: Miles Russell isn’t just a name to keep an eye on; he is the future of golf. While Charlie Woods has time to shine, right now, the course belongs to Russell as he continues to show the golfing world what’s possible for junior golfers.