Charlie Woods admits AimPoint putting failure
Charlie Woods, the 17-year-old son of 15-time major champion Tiger Woods, admitted in September 2026 that he never mastered AimPoint, a green-reading method used by more than 200 PGA Tour players. Woods made the confession in a TaylorMade video filmed at TPC Sawgrass in Florida.
He revealed that Justin Thomas tried to teach him the technique years earlier, but the lesson did not stick. Woods is a senior at The Benjamin School in Florida and has committed to play college golf for Florida State starting next year.
What AimPoint Express actually teaches golfers
AimPoint Express is a green-reading system created by Mark Sweeney that uses science and slope measurements to help golfers predict how much a putt will break. AimPoint says it first created and patented its angular AimCharts in 2003.
Golfers feel the slope through their feet and then use their fingers to determine where to aim the putt. The system is now used by more than 400 tour players and 300,000 amateur golfers, according to AimPoint.
Justin Thomas tried teaching Woods the method
Justin Thomas, a 2-time PGA Championship winner, attempted to teach Charlie Woods how to use AimPoint a couple of years before the 2026 confession. Woods described himself as visual and feel-based rather than analytical on the greens.
In the TaylorMade video, Woods said he failed miserably when describing his attempt to learn the finger-based slope reading system from Thomas. He said his instinct still guides most of his reads on the course today.
Woods relies on feel instead of finger reads
Charlie Woods says he pictures the path and speed of a putt when reading a green. He told TaylorMade that Justin Thomas tried to teach him AimPoint a couple of years ago, but he struggled with the method. AimPoint Express also uses feel: golfers sense a green’s slope with their feet and use their fingers to choose an aiming point.
Woods made those remarks while filming a practice round before the Junior Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. TaylorMade released the video on September 22, after the tournament.
Woods tied for 8th at Junior Players event
Charlie Woods tied for 8th place at the Junior Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in early September 2026, finishing at 1 under par with a score of 215. He closed the tournament with a final round of 71.
His last round included 5 birdies and 4 bogeys, leaving him 7 shots behind winner JP Lynch. The event is played on the same Stadium Course that hosts the PGA Tour’s Players Championship each March.
His 2026 finish beat last year’s result
Woods improved sharply from his 2025 Junior Players Championship result, where he finished tied for 31st. His 2026 result of tied for 8th marked his best finish of the season in a national junior tournament.
The jump from T31 to T8 in 1 year points to steady gains in his short game and course management. Woods achieved the improved result without using the AimPoint method most Tour pros favor, relying instead on the visual approach he described in the TaylorMade video.
Benjamin School won the Palm League title
Later in September 2026, Charlie Woods helped The Benjamin School win the Palm League Championship team title in Florida. Woods shot an even-par 71 in the final round to finish 8th individually in the event.
Teammate Andrew Tsar won the individual title with a 2-under 69, while Woods did not repeat as individual champion from the prior year. Woods still made key contributions, including a birdie on the 18th hole that helped secure the team win.
TaylorMade signs Woods to first NIL deal
TaylorMade announced on Friday, September 4, 2026, that Charlie Woods had signed his first name, image and likeness deal. The equipment agreement covers TaylorMade clubs and a golf ball; Woods uses a putter from another manufacturer.
Woods had already used TaylorMade equipment in junior competition. The announcement came as he competed in the Junior Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. His father, Tiger Woods, has also used TaylorMade clubs for years.
Woods will play TaylorMade clubs on tour
Charlie Woods uses a TaylorMade Qi4D driver, fairway woods, P·7CB and P·7TW irons, MG5 wedges and a TP5x golf ball in junior competition. His driver is set at 10.5°. He has also used a Scotty Cameron putter.
His father, Tiger Woods, uses TaylorMade clubs but plays a Bridgestone golf ball. In December 2024, Charlie, then 15, made his first hole-in-one during the final round of the PNC Championship.
Fun fact: Tiger Woods’ 15-year-old son, Charlie Woods, made the first hole-in-one of his competitive career during the final round of the 2024 PNC Championship on December 22, 2024
Woods signed with agent Allen Hobbs in February
Charlie Woods signed with Players Group Management in February 2026 and is represented by agent Allen Hobbs. Woods had already announced his verbal commitment to Florida State earlier that month. His TaylorMade NIL agreement followed in September.
PGA Tour management records have also listed Hobbs as the representative for Will Zalatoris, Jackson Suber and Ben Kohles.
Woods will wear Nike at Florida State
Charlie Woods has committed to play college golf for Florida State starting in 2027, joining a program with a full apparel contract with Nike. That deal means Woods will wear Nike gear during official Florida State events.
His TaylorMade deal covers clubs and a ball only, so he can still wear Sun Day Red, the apparel brand his father Tiger Woods launched in 2024, in non-college competitions like the Junior Players Championship.
AimPoint is used across professional golf
AimPoint says more than 400 tour players use its green-reading methods. Its technology also appeared in golf broadcasts before AimPoint Express became a familiar sight on putting greens. Justin Thomas is among the professionals associated with the method.
Charlie Woods says he relies on visual reads after struggling to learn AimPoint. That preference does not establish how unusual his approach is among junior golfers. Earlier in 2026, he shot a second-round 70 at the Boys Junior PGA Championship but missed the later cut after a third-round 77.
Charlie Woods’ final round brought a brighter finish to his Junior PGA appearance. Explore why Charlie Woods rebounds with a 70 before his Junior PGA exit.
TaylorMade builds a roster of young golfers
Charlie Woods has joined a TaylorMade athlete roster that includes fellow Florida State recruit Miles Russell and amateur golfer Kai Trump. TaylorMade announced Woods’ NIL agreement on September 4, 2026, while he was competing at the Junior Players Championship.
Woods is a senior at The Benjamin School. His tie for 8th at the Junior Players was his first AJGA top 10 of the season. In a TaylorMade video released later that month, he said he prefers visual putting reads after struggling to learn AimPoint.
Charlie Woods is building his golf profile both on and off the course. Charlie Woods makes major move with TaylorMade NIL deal details his latest step with the golf brand.
Do you think Charlie Woods should give AimPoint another try, or stick with his natural putting style? Share your take in the comments.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
Read More From This Brand:
