Golf Hall of Famer says Tiger Woods should ‘say goodbye’ to the sport

It has been a rough go for Tiger Woods since he won the 2019 Masters.

In 13 majors since winning his fifth green jacket, he has failed to muster a top-20 finish. In his last 25 majors, he has four top-20 finishes.

He has played in just nine events since the 2022 Masters, and next week’s Open Championship at Royal Troon will be his last tournament of the year.

Colin Montgomerie of Scotland and Tiger Woods of the United States at the fourth hole during the third round of the 2004 Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club March 6, 2004, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Woods has not been very competitive, and golf Hall of Famer Colin Montgomerie says it’s time for Woods to hang it up.

“Aren’t we there? I’d have thought we were past there,” Montgomerie told The Times of London. “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 added that Woods “did not seem to enjoy a single shot” at the U.S. Open, “and he won’t enjoy it” at the fourth and final major of the season, either.”

Tiger Woods reacts after a putt on the third hole during the second round of the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2.  (Jim Dedmon/USA Today Sports)

In fact, the Scotland native says Woods should have retired at the Open two years ago.

“That was the time. Stand on that bridge, start waving, and everyone goes, ‘So, is that it?’ ‘Yeah, it is.’ It would have been a glorious way to go,” Montgomerie said. “The stands were full. The world’s TV cameras — from all continents — were on him. He’s walking up there on his own, tears were in his eyes, obviously. … You can’t beat that walk.”

Woods, 48, gave a murky response when asked if last month’s U.S. Open, where he missed the cut, was his last.

“I don’t know. … It may or may not be,” he said.