Charlie Woods to Watch as Miles Russell Switches to Ramon Bescansa for U.S. Open
Charlie Woods won’t caddie for friend Miles Russell at the U.S. Open; Russell picked Ramon Bescansa for Shinnecock Hills after Woods helped him qualify in a quick swap.
Russell makes late caddie change ahead of first major
Charlie Woods, who helped Miles Russell secure a U.S. Open berth, will not carry the bag when Russell tees off at Shinnecock Hills. The 17-year-old Russell said he has chosen Ramon Bescansa to caddie for the major, citing comfort and course familiarity as key reasons for the switch. The decision came after Woods caddied for Russell during the 36-hole qualifier, a day that ended in a playoff and earned Russell a spot in the championship.
Russell confirmed the change during a phone conference Friday, explaining that the move was about practical preparation rather than any personal issue. He described Woods’ presence during qualifying as calming and supportive, but said Shinnecock’s nuances favored a caddie with prior experience on the links.
Bescansa’s Shinnecock Hills and tour experience
Bescansa brings direct Shinnecock experience, having caddied for Russell Knox at the 2018 U.S. Open, giving him a track record on the often-challenging course. He has also worked with Russell previously on the Korn Ferry Tour and during the Jacksonville player’s PGA Tour debut in 2024. That combination of local course knowledge and familiarity with Russell’s game influenced the decision ahead of Thursday’s opening round.
Team continuity and prior collaboration were cited as practical advantages, with Russell noting that Bescansa’s prior service at Shinnecock offers insight into how the course might play under championship conditions. For a 17-year-old making his major debut, that experience is a tangible asset in strategy and club selection.
Woods’ role in the qualifier and their friendship
Charlie Woods played a prominent role in the 36-hole U.S. Open qualifier, walking and working alongside Russell as they navigated the pressures of a playoff. Russell credited Woods with helping him stay relaxed and focused during a stressful day, saying his friend’s demeanor took the edge off the moment. The younger Woods, well known in golf circles as the son of Tiger Woods, has taken on caddie duties for friends and continues to gain experience around tournament play.
Observers noted the choice to use Woods for the qualifier reflected the informal, supportive role young caddies can provide, especially when the player values mental calm as much as technical guidance. While Woods will not be on the bag at Shinnecock, his contribution to Russell’s path into the field remains a significant part of the story.
Player reasoning: comfort and course preparation
Russell framed the change as a matter of “comfortability,” emphasizing that a caddie with specific knowledge of Shinnecock’s lines and conditions could offer a strategic edge. He pointed to the benefit of someone who understands potential wind patterns, greenside contours, and the subtleties that championship setups often present. That kind of insight can influence tee decisions and club selection across a course as variable as Shinnecock Hills.
Choosing a caddie for a major often balances personal rapport with practical experience, and Russell’s move reflects that calculus. For an amateur entering his first major, leaning on a caddie with direct prior exposure to the venue is a commonly taken precaution.
Russell’s profile and what the U.S. Open represents
Miles Russell, from Jacksonville Beach, Florida, enters the U.S. Open as the world’s top-ranked amateur and a committed Florida State recruit. At 17, he will be making his major championship debut, a milestone that places him among a select group of young amateurs testing themselves against the professional ranks. The qualifier result, secured via playoff, capped a tense day and brought immediate attention to Russell’s potential on golf’s biggest stages.
Russell’s ascent through amateur ranks and early exposure to professional events has marked him as a player to watch, and his choices around caddie and preparation will be followed closely. The U.S. Open represents both a test and an opportunity to measure his game under peak competitive pressure.
Broader implications for team choices and young caddies
The decision underscores the practical considerations that influence team choices at major championships, particularly for young players balancing friendship and performance needs. Caddies with prior experience at specific venues can provide tactical advantages that outweigh the comforts of a familiar companion. At the same time, moments like the qualifier illustrate the value of trusted personal support in high-stress situations.
For Charlie Woods, the episode adds to his growing résumé around tournament environments and may signal more opportunities to work on bags or continue gaining on-course experience. For Russell, the swap aims to maximize his preparedness for what is widely regarded as one of golf’s most exacting tests.
Miles Russell will begin his U.S. Open rounds at Shinnecock Hills with Ramon Bescansa on the bag, while Charlie Woods watches from the sidelines after playing a key role in the qualifier that earned Russell his spot in the field.
