University of Michigan legend and NFL Hall of Famer Charles Woodson refuses to put aside his Wolverine pride, even for a certain Buckeye.
This interview was originally published in the December 2025 issue of GOLF magazine.
GOLF: What is your favorite thing about golf?
Charles Woodson: That there is always room for improvement and that you can never understand the game. No matter how well you play one day, the next day can be completely different. You can play a golf course one day and tomorrow the golf course will set up completely differently and play completely differently. But it’s the same golf course. And so, you can never perfect it. It’s a tough game, but it’s fun and it’s always a challenge to try to get better.
G: What are some of the closest parallels you see between football and golf?
CW: I played defense and in that position you have to have a short-term memory because a lot of things will happen there on the football field. You can, you should forget it very quickly. In golf, you can be playing well, and then, all of a sudden, you hit an unfair shot and you’re in trouble. You should forget that because there are 18 holes. You have to have that short term memory.
G: You started Woodson Bourbon Whiskey. Fuzzy Zoeller has his own brand of whiskey, and he once said when he wasn’t playing so well, he wouldn’t mind sampling a product on the golf course to help him play better. Have you ever thought about sampling your product on the golf course?
CW: (laugh) I thought of it this morning! My friends asked me if I had any products. I said, “No, man.” I was letting things go. But tomorrow there may be some product. I have a big golf bag.
G: Michigan and Ohio State don’t always see eye to eye. If you had the chance to play golf with Ohio State alum Jack Nicklaus, would you be willing to put aside your dislike of Ohio State for a few hours?
CW: Not a chance, because he wouldn’t forget his dislike of Michigan! That means the rivalry is alive and well, and I’m sure if I had a chance to play with him, he’d give me a few things about the championship they won this year. We won it last year. You have to keep it up.
G: At last year’s American Century in Lake Tahoe, you beat Larry the Cable Guy and Blake Griffin. They are both here this year. Think you’ll remember that?
CW: We’ll see. Let’s get through the tournament first.
G: You played in the Pro Football Hall of Fame golf tournament in Ohio. Are there any Hall of Fame football players that you think could be Hall of Fame players?
CW: Yeah… I love them, but none of them. No, not one.
This interview, conducted at the 2025 American Championship of the Century, has been edited for length and clarity.
