Tiger Woods bit back at Colin Montgomerie today after the Scotsman suggested the 15-time major winner should not be playing The Open at Troon this week.
Speaking in an interview with The Times, Montgomerie, who won 31 times on the DP World Tour, said of Woods: “At Pinehurst [for the U.S. Open], 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.
“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.”
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Woods has struggled to make an impact following a car crash in February 2021 in which he almost lost his right leg.
The 48-year-old has made just five starts this season and has missed the cut in his last two – the PGA Championship and the US Open.
As a former Open champion, Woods gets an exemption this week unlike Montgomerie, who never won a major despite coming second five times.
🗣️ “As a past champion I’m exempt until I’m 60. Colin Montgomerie’s not.”
⛳️ Tiger Woods has hit back at comments from the veteran Scottish golfer, who had suggested he should retire.#BBCGolf #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/eDQ25OgQXA
— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) July 16, 2024
Asked about Montgomerie’s comments today, the American replied: “Colin’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 still make that decision, whereas he doesn’t.
“I’ll play as long as I can play and I feel like I can still win the event.”
Montgomerie was quick to offer a response, suggesting he’d been misquoted.
He wrote on X: “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.”
