Colin Montgomerie thinks Tiger Woods ought to hold up his spikes sooner reasonably than later.
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As Tiger Woods readies to play within the Open Championship at Royal Troon subsequent week, he — together with golf followers all over the place — is grappling with the fact that his main days are numbered.
Woods has spoken about his golf “mortality”, however he’s been coy about when the tip may very well come.
Colin Montgomerie, for one, thinks the tip of the 48-year-old’s taking part in profession ought to come sooner reasonably than later.
In an interview with the Instances of London, Montgomerie mentioned the Woods who performed within the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst appeared nothing just like the participant who beat Montgomerie by 5 strokes on the 2005 Open Championship at St. Andrews.
“I hope folks keep in mind Tiger as Tiger was, the eagerness and the charismatic aura round him,” the 31-time DP World Tour winner mentioned. “There’s none of that now. At Pinehurst, he didn’t appear to take pleasure in a single shot and also you assume, ‘What the hell is he doing?’ He’s coming to Troon and he gained’t take pleasure in it there, both.”
After a missed reduce at Pinehurst final month, Woods was requested if he thought that it might have been his final U.S. Open. The 15-time main winner provided a somber admission.
“It could or might not be,” he mentioned.
Woods had a tearful ship off on the 2022 Open Championship at St. Andrews as the gang acknowledged what might have been Woods’ final look on the Previous Course, however Woods was equally non-committal about his future then.
Since Woods, 48, returned on the 2022 Masters from a brutal single-car crash in February 2021, which practically price him his decrease proper leg, he’s performed in simply 9 official PGA Tour occasions — seven of them majors — finishing 72 holes solely thrice with three missed cuts and three withdrawals.
Tiger Woods makes somber admission after U.S. Open missed reduce
Woods mentioned late final 12 months that his objective was to play about one event every month of 2024, however he hasn’t fairly lived as much as that expectation. He performed within the Genesis Invitation in February, which advantages his basis, skipped March and has performed in a serious every of the final three months. His begin at Troon subsequent week will mark his fifth look of the 12 months, probably the most occasions he has performed in 12 months since his comeback started.
However Montgomerie mentioned it was gone time for Woods to say goodbye to aggressive golf.
“Aren’t we there? I’d have thought we have been previous there. There’s a time for all sportsmen to say goodbye, nevertheless it’s very troublesome to inform Tiger it’s time to go,” he mentioned. “Clearly, he nonetheless feels he can win. We’re extra real looking.”
Montgomerie, 61 and nonetheless energetic on the PGA Tour Champions, added that Woods persevering with to play at a diminished stage might find yourself tarnishing his legacy. Woods wouldn’t be the primary star athlete to proceed taking part in previous his prime. Brett Farve and Michael Jordan, within the twilight of their respective careers within the NFL and NBA, each put up lackluster numbers within the ultimate seasons with totally different groups.
“These guys solely know Tiger Woods lacking the reduce , nd he’s higher than that — the most effective we’ve ever seen,” Montgomerie mentioned.
The PGA Tour Champions offers the most effective golfers an avenue to compete effectively into their 60s. Montgomerie, who is taken into account among the many greatest gamers by no means to have gained an everyday main, has gained three majors on the senior tour. He’ll tee it up within the Senior Open Championship the week after the Open at Troon.
