Tiger Woods is preparing to play at The Open Championship next week but Colin Montgomerie has questioned the logic of the American.
Woods has battled along this year but struggled massively in the tournaments he has played in.
He’s made the cut at The Masters before missing it at both the PGA and US Open, while he also withdrew injured earlier in the year at The Genesis Invitational.
For Woods, who has 15 majors to his name and is widely regarded as the greatest to ever do it, it’s becoming more and more painful to play.
And while he will come to Royal Troon this week looking to make an impression and make the weekend, golfing legend Colin Montgomerie has called on Woods to think about his future in the game.
Colin Montgomerie tells Tiger Woods it’s time to retire ahead of The Open
Speaking in an article for The Times, Montgomerie was blunt in his assessment of Woods and called on the 15-time major winner to call it a day.
“I hope people remember Tiger as Tiger was, the passion and the charismatic aura around him. There is none of that now. 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,” Montgomerie said.
Speaking on Woods’ suggestion he’ll only stop when he’s no longer competitive, Montgomerie suggested we are already past that point.
“Aren’t we there? I’d have thought we were past there. 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.
“These guys [current tour players] only know Tiger Woods missing the cut and he’s better than that, the best we’ve ever seen.”
Woods will have to seriously consider retirement in 2025
While he remains a star attraction at any event he plays in, Tiger Woods is getting to the point where it’s almost painful to watch.
If he plans on doing the same in 2025 and simply playing in just the majors, then he has to find a way somehow to get more practice and reps in so he doesn’t just slip away.
Unfortunately, this is a big decision coming the way of Woods in the next 12-18 months.
If the same happens at Royal Troon as has happened in the other majors this year, then it might be time to call it a day.
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