Charlie Woods made a steady start to the defense of his Team TaylorMade Invitational title after opening with a two-under-par 68 at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida.

The son of 15-time major champion Tiger Woods sits tied seventh after the opening round of one of the American Junior Golf Association’s premier events, seven shots behind runaway leader Bodie Brumlow.

Woods, 17, looked sharp early in his opening round, birdieing three of his first seven holes to quickly move into red figures.

But a costly double bogey at the ninth halted his momentum before he recovered impressively with further birdies at the 13th and 15th.

He eventually signed for a 68 featuring five birdies, one bogey and the lone double bogey to remain firmly in contention heading into the weekend.

The tournament is staged over 54 holes.

Your defending champion…Charlie Woods.#TeamTaylorMadeInv | @TaylorMadeGolf pic.twitter.com/tTQWc1NYpD

— AJGA (@AJGAGolf) May 22, 2026

Brumlow stole the headlines on Friday after carding a stunning nine-under 61 to open up a two-shot lead over Palm Beach Gardens talent Ryan Nana Tanke.

Several of the nation’s top-ranked juniors are packed tightly behind the leader, including Cameron Kuchar — son of PGA Tour veteran Matt Kuchar — who opened with a 66.

AJGA number one Miles Russell sits tied 17th after a one-under 69.

Woods returned this week as defending champion following his breakthrough victory in the tournament last year at Streamsong Resort’s Black Course.

Entering that event ranked outside the AJGA top 600, Woods stunned a stacked field by winning at 15 under par to secure his maiden AJGA title and launch a rapid rise up the rankings.

Now ranked 13th in the AJGA standings and committed to Florida State Seminoles, Woods is once again among the contenders at one of junior golf’s biggest events.

Article originally appeared on: Golfmagic.com