Golf star Justin Thomas insists he would love to become a big-brother-type figure for Tiger Woods’ son Charlie – despite calling him a ‘little punk.’
Thomas, a two-time major winner, is one of Tiger’s closest friends on the PGA Tour after developing their own sibling-like relationship over the years.
As a result, it means he has also formed a strong bond with the golf icon’s 17-year-old son, who is hoping to follow in his father’s legendary footsteps.
During an appearance on ‘The Smylie Show’ with former PGA pro Smylie Kaufman, Thomas was asked if his relationship with Charlie is a big brother-little brother dynamic.
‘I wanna be if he wants me to be,’ the 32-year-old said. ‘I was very lucky to have some people like that in my life and I know how helpful that was… I wanna help in any way I can.
‘The shots that he can hit, a lot of guys on Tour can’t hit. He’s very, very impressive and I’m rooting for the best.’
Justin Thomas insists he would love to become a big-brother-type figure for Charlie Woods
Charlie, 17, is hoping to emulate legendary father Tiger after embarking on his own golf career
Thomas then joked about Woods’ son: ‘He’s grown up a lot. He’s still a little punk but not a total punk kid. He can beat me up so I can’t say too much.’
Charlie announced last month that he has committed to play college golf at Florida State University as part of the 2027 recruiting class.
However, last week he endured a nightmare at the most prestigious event in junior golf.
He finished dead last at the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley in South Carolina, a massive 10 shots behind his nearest competitor in the exclusive field of just 36 players.
Charlie was 26-over par after four rounds, while defending champion Miles Russell recorded a three-shot victory on 15-under for the tournament.
The Junior Invitational boasts some impressive past winners from players who capitalized on success here to forge dominant careers – World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler won it once, as did Austin Eckroat, Joaquin Niemann and Akshay Bhatia.
But for Woods, the week was a sobering experience and while he was never in contention to win, it was his disastrous third and fourth rounds that sent him plummeting down the leaderboard.
Charlie, who is ranked 53rd in the boys junior golf rankings, opened with a three-over par 75 and followed it with a four-over 76. Then, disaster truly struck.
Thomas, one of Tiger’s closest friends on the PGA Tour, has a strong bond with Charlie
He joked that the teenager is a ‘little punk’ despite insisting he wants to be a mentor for him
Charlie suffered a nightmare at the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley after finishing dead last
The teenager carded a whopping 11-over 83 in round three and didn’t fare much better in his closing round with a score of 80.
The Junior Invitational is often considered as ‘the junior Masters’ due to its elite field. It is also just 20 miles away from Augusta, one of the most fabled venues in all of sports.
Charlie’s father is a five-time Masters winner there and currently has the world of golf holding its breath after hinting he could be teeing it up at the tournament in a few weeks.
Woods, 50, hasn’t played since the Open Championship in July 2024 and in that time, underwent a seventh back surgery last October. He is also recovering from a torn Achilles sustained last March.
But speaking in February at the Genesis Invitational, a tournament he hosts at Riviera Country Club in California, he refused to rule himself out of the event that starts on Thursday, April 9.
Asked if there is any chance he plays, Woods simply said: ‘There is.’
He also said at a press conference earlier that week: ‘I’m trying, put it that way.
‘The disc replacement has been one thing. I’ve had a fused back and now a disc replacement, so it’s challenging. And now I entered a new decade, so that number is starting to sink in.’
