‘He’s not a past champion’: Woods hits back at Montgomerie and dismisses retirement talk
Tiger Woods delivered a sharp retort to Colin Montgomerie after the Scottish golfer suggested that Woods should retire. Montgomerie, who achieved a career-high world ranking of No. 2 but never won a major championship, criticized Woods for continuing to play past his 48th birthday. Woods, a three-time Open Championship winner, is competing at Royal Troon…
Tiger Woods delivered a sharp retort to Colin Montgomerie after the Scottish golfer suggested that Woods should retire. Montgomerie, who achieved a career-high world ranking of No. 2 but never won a major championship, criticized Woods for continuing to play past his 48th birthday.
Woods, a three-time Open Championship winner, is competing at Royal Troon this week. After missing the cut at last month’s US Open, Woods admitted it might have been his final appearance at that tournament.
Montgomerie, sharing his thoughts with The Times, remarked, “At Pinehurst, he did not seem to enjoy a single shot and you think: ‘What the hell is he doing?’ He’s coming to Troon and he won’t enjoy it there, either.” The 61-year-old continued, “I hope people remember Tiger as Tiger was, the passion and the charismatic aura around him. There is none of that now.”
In response, Woods issued a stinging reminder of Montgomerie’s lack of major victories. When asked about Montgomerie’s comments, Woods said, “As a past champion I’m exempt until I’m 60. Colin is not. He’s not a past champion, so he’s not exempt. So he doesn’t get the opportunity to make that decision. I do. So when I get to his age, I get to make that decision, when he doesn’t.”
Montgomerie came close to winning majors several times, finishing second in five major championships, including the 2005 Open where Woods defeated him by five shots. Woods has consistently stated that he will retire when he no longer feels he can compete with the best players.
Montgomerie argued, “Aren’t we there? I’d have thought we were past there,” referring to Woods’ recent performance, noting that Woods has only completed four rounds in one major since 2022. “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.”
Montgomerie also commented on the current generation of golfers, saying, “These guys only know Tiger Woods missing the cut and he’s better than that, the best we’ve ever seen.”
Montgomerie’s career includes 31 wins on the DP World Tour and second-place finishes at the 1995 PGA Championship and the US Open in 1994, 1997, and 2006. His best finish at The Masters was a tie for eighth in 1998.
