Tiger Woods sends Colin Montgomerie brutal reminder in fiery retort to retirement plea
Tiger Woods Delivers a Fiery Retort to Colin Montgomerie’s Retirement Plea
Tiger Woods is back in action at this week’s Open Championship, and he has not held back after Colin Montgomerie called on the 15-time major champion to step away from competing.
Woods, making his fifth start of the year at Royal Troon, is continuing his part-time schedule amid struggles for full fitness. In his four appearances in 2024, Woods has made just one cut at the Masters and was forced to withdraw from the Genesis Invitational due to illness.
The 82-time PGA Tour champion is no longer the dominant force he once was, and doubts about his future persist as he battles numerous injury problems. Montgomerie recently voiced his opinion on Woods’ playing days, telling The Times, “I hope people remember Tiger as he was, the passion and the charismatic aura around him. There is none of that now. At Pinehurst, he did not seem to enjoy a single shot, and you think, ‘What the hell is he doing?'”
Montgomerie continued, “He’s coming to Troon and he won’t enjoy it there either. Discussing the potential of retirement for Woods, the Scot said, ‘Aren’t we there? I’d have thought we were past there. There is a time for all sportsmen to say goodbye, but it’s very difficult to tell Tiger it’s time to go. Obviously, he still feels he can win. We are more realistic.'”
Ahead of this week’s event in Ayrshire, Montgomerie’s claims were presented to Woods, who issued a savage response, emphasizing his right to compete at The Open as a past champion, an honor Montgomerie never achieved. “Well, as a past champion, I’m exempt until I’m 60. Colin is not,” Woods said on Tuesday. “He is not a past champion, so he’s not exempt. He doesn’t get the opportunity to make that decision. I do. So when I get to his age, I get to still make that decision, where he doesn’t.”
Woods hopes to improve on his previous outings this season and has highlighted his positive preparation for the final major of the year. “I’ve been training a lot better. We’ve been busting it pretty hard in the gym, which has been good. The body has been feeling better to be able to do such things, and it translates to being able to hit the ball better. Can’t quite stay out there during a practice session as long as I’d like, but I’m able to do some things that I haven’t done all year, which is nice.” Clearly still confident he can add another win to his CV, he added, “I’ll play as long as I can play and I feel like I can still win the event.”
Woods’ determination and confidence shine through, despite the doubts and criticisms. As he tees off at Royal Troon, the golfing world will be watching to see if the legendary player can once again defy the odds and silence his critics.
