Tiger Woods sent retirement warning as former rival admits he 'feels sorry' for golf icon

Michael Campbell, once Tiger Woods' adversary on the green, has expressed sympathy for the 15-time major champion amidst his marked downturn in form. The Kiwi golfer reckons Woods could still clinch an impressive victory .

Woods, now 48, looked a pale comparison of his erstwhile dominant self in this year's majors, only managing to scrape through at The Masters where he lagged 27 strokes behind the victor, Scottie Scheffler. A string of injuries trailing back through Woods' career and a devastating car wreck in 2021 seems to have caught up with him, severely curtailing his ability to maintain a regular playing timetable and visibly impairing his performance on the course.

Despite mounting appeals for him to hang up his clubs, notably from Colin Montgomerie, Woods has stubbornly dismissed the notion, pointedly retorting to Montgomerie's statements during a media briefing before The Open Championship last month.

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Campbell, whose shining moment was taking the 2005 US Open two strokes ahead of Woods at Pinehurst No. 2, conveyed to Bunkered how during his prime Woods was "almost untouchable" and its quite disheartening to witness his decline.

"It's a real shame. Through my whole career I played a lot with him," Campbell reflected. "He was awesome. To see how he's playing now... I feel sorry for him.",

Nonetheless, Campbell isn't counting Woods out of the running to snag a 16th major title. He's encouraged him to make the leap to the Champions Tour upon hitting the big 5-0 towards the end of next year, where the rules would allow him to use a golf cart, lessening the physical toll on his body.

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This would allow Woods, who has only participated in five events this year and won't be back in action until December, to play more competitive golf and ensure he is adequately prepared for the majors. Campbell believes The Open Championship, in particular, offers Woods the best opportunity to add another major title to his tally.

"Tom Watson really proved a point back in 2009 when he nearly won the Open at 59," Campbell said, referring to the eight-time major winner's close call at Turnberry. "That's where I think Tiger's mind is at the moment."

"He's not as long as he used to be. The only tournament that he could win where length isn't a factor and it's more about game management is an Open. I still believe he can win a major."

"The Open isn't about length but its about hitting your targets. It's going to be tough for him but I still think it's possible. If you consider Tom Watson, he hardly played at all. He played a few Champions Tour events but he wasn't playing much. I still think he's got a great high percentage [chance] of winning an Open."