What was it like following Charlie Woods at 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. — When Oakland Hills Country Club’s South Course underwent a renovation a few years back, the goal was to bring championship golf back to the historic Michigan golf course while moving in the next step of the course’s evolution.

The USGA awarded Oakland Hills eight championships to be played at the course between 2024 and 2051, starting with the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship this week.

Some of the championship atmosphere was present on the 106-year-old course on Monday and Tuesday during the stroke play portion, thanks to the large crowd following Charlie Woods, Chase Kyes and Davis Ovard. Woods, the 15-year-old son of Tiger Woods, was the main attraction for the crowd — along with his father, who walked alongside fans on both days and absorbed the action from outside the ropes.

Woods failed to make the 64-golfer cut after struggling on both days, finishing at 22-over par through 36 holes. Ovard and Kyes, both 18-year-old college golfers, had to deal with the attention alongside Woods, and finished inside the cut line to advance to match play. Ovard, a Baylor golfer, finished at 1 over while Kyes, an Alabama golfer, finished tied for third place at 4 under.

Here are some takeaways from the most popular group’s vantage point through the first two days of action, as well as a look ahead to bracket play.

‘You can play ahead’

Hundreds of people began crowding the ropes around the 10th tee on the South Course, where their round began, and the putting green behind it half an hour before the group teed off Tuesday. The swell of people filmed Woods’ initial tee shot, a drive in the center of the fairway, then migrated down the hill after him for his second shot.

Photos: Charlie Woods at the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur

Ovard was the furthest out and hit first, followed by Woods. After Woods hit his approach, he waited for Kyes’ shot, but the rest of the crowd started moving towards the green beforehand. Kyes’ caddie asked for the group to hold, which most did. But some didn’t, causing motion and some noise off to his right during his swing. Kyes was unfazed and stuck his approach inside 15 feet to set up a birdie, but Woods still made sure he wasn’t being bothered by the crowd.

After the shot, Woods told Kyes the group could play out of order with Woods going last, if needed, to avoid crowd movement during other swings. Woods’ acknowledgment, however, didn’t change how the group played and they stuck with…