One Ryder Cup legend believes it’s time for Tiger Woods to give in to the passage of time and retire.
Colin Montgomerie, who reached number two in the world golf rankings at the height of his career in 1996, urged the injury-plagued Woods to realise his tournament-winning days are over.
Woods is scheduled to play in the British Open later this week under an exemption for past winners.
“Aren’t we there? I thought we were there. past There” Montgomery He told the London Times“There comes a time for all athletes to say goodbye, but it’s very difficult to tell Tiger it’s over. Obviously he feels he can still win. We’re more realistic.”
Woods has won 15 major championships, including the British Open (2002, 2005 and 2006).
However, since 2008, he has won just one major tournament (the 2019 Masters), and his most recent tournament victory – his record-tying 82nd career victory – came in October 2019.
Woods missed the cut at the U.S. Open last month in Pinehurst, North Carolina, and appeared to be in pain as he hit shots and moved around the course.
“I hope people remember Tiger for the passion and charisma he once had,” Montgomerie said. “There’s nothing of that now. At Pinehurst, he didn’t look like he was enjoying a single stroke and you thought, ‘What is he doing?’ He’s coming to Troon (for the British Open) and he’s not going to have any fun there either.”
The 61-year-old Montgomerie has never won a major tournament, finishing second to Woods at St. Andrews in 2005, but he has an unbeaten Ryder Cup singles record and is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.
He still currently plays on the PGA Tour Champions for golfers over 50 years old.
The 48-year-old Woods was once considered a sure thing to surpass Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major wins, but chronic back problems, a right leg injury suffered in a 2021 car accident and ankle surgery last year have shattered that streak.
He played in just four major tournaments in 2024, including the first three.
Montgomerie believes Woods should have retired after missing the cut at the 2022 British Open.
“It was amazing,” Montgomery said. “And he stood on that bridge and started waving and people said, ‘So that’s it?’ and he said, ‘Yes, it is.’ What an incredible journey. The stands were packed, TV cameras from all over the world were pointed at him from every continent, and he was walking out there by himself. There were obviously tears in his eyes… You can’t beat that walk.”
