Tiger Woods told to retire by golf lege
Tiger Woods has already missed a golden opportunity to say the perfect farewell. Colin Montgomerie said Woods, battered by age and injuries, was adamant he should have retired at his favorite golf course in the world, St. Andrews, during the 150th British Open.
“It’s time,” the 15-time major winner told The Banker Podcast after missing out on the 2022 Old Course. “You stand on the deck and start waving your arms and people say, ‘So what?’ Yes, you do, and it’s going to be a glorious journey. The stands were full, TV cameras were on him from all over the world, from every continent. He went alone, with visibly tears in his eyes… This march is invincible. He made it himself. There’s nothing better than a full house. That’s when Tiger said, “Okay, I’m off.”
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Two years on, not much has changed. Now 48, Woods is still grappling with the fading light of an unprecedented career, playing for the 23rd time at Royal Troon next week.
The three-time Claret Jug winner has played just seven tournaments since that emotional crossing of the Marsh Bridge. His last six competitive rounds – all at this year’s majors – make for grim reading: 82-77-72-77-74-73.
A T60 finish at this year’s Masters was hardly reason for optimism either, as he continues to be struggle with the injuries he sustained in his life-threatening February 2021 car crash. “I hope people remember Tiger for who he was, his passion and the charismatic aura that surrounded him,” Montgomery told the Times. There is none of that now. At Pinehurst he didn’t seem to enjoy a single hit and you think, “What the hell is he doing?”
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“He’ll come to Troon and he won’t like it there either.”
Woods has always insisted he will only play until he thinks he can win – but Montgomery is concerned that the game’s most transformative figure has long since reached the dreaded stage of the ceremonial golfer.
“Aren’t we there? “I thought that point had passed,” the Ryder Cup legend added, “There comes a time when you say goodbye to any sportsman, but it’s very difficult to say it’s time to say goodbye to Tiger. Obviously he feels he can still win. We’re more realistic.”
