‘I can still win’: Tiger Woods defiant before The Open at Royal Troon

Tiger Woods, the 15-time major winner, who has battled injuries in recent years, will attempt to win his fourth British Open this week. Despite his struggles, Woods has no intention of retiring from the sport. He affirmed his commitment to continue playing as long as he believes he can win.

Colin Montgomerie, a winner of 31 European Tour events, commented in an interview with The Times last week that the 48-year-old Woods did not seem to enjoy a single shot during the US Open last month at Pinehurst, where Woods missed the cut by two strokes.

Woods, who remains confident in his ability to win, responded, “I’ll play as long as I can play and I feel like I can still win the event,” he told reporters ahead of The Open on Tuesday.

Woods also addressed Montgomerie’s comments directly: “Well, as a past champion, I’m exempt until I’m 60. Colin’s 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.”

Montgomerie later clarified his comments on social media platform X, posting, “If golf writers want my thoughts on Tiger, please ask me direct, rather than taking a quote from an interview out of context. Wishing Tiger an enjoyable and successful week.”

Woods, who has been playing on a limited schedule due to injuries, will be returning to Royal Troon after a 20-year absence. He won The Open in 2000, 2005, and 2006.

“I’ve always loved playing here. I’ve only played here twice, in ’97 and in ’04. I loved them both. I got a chance to play with Tom Weiskopf in his last practice round,” Woods reminisced. “That was neat for him to take me back to some of his holes and how he played them, and I obviously gave him some stick, and he’s giving me stick, like we always do. We had a wonderful time playing just a wonderful practice round.”