Tiger Woods isn't convinced that his time as a true competitor in major championships is over.
On the contrary, he thinks he still has plenty of time left to bask in the spotlight and perhaps contend for another piece of hardware or two.
The 15-time major winner returns to play this weekend for the Open Championship, a tournament he has traditionally excelled in: Woods has three wins (2000, 2005, 2006) and 10 top-10 finishes across the pond over the course of his glimmering career.
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The 48-year old is hoping for another impressive showing at Royal Troon, the site of this year's Open Championship – Woods finished ninth there in 2004, seven strokes off champion Todd Hamilton.
It's clear Woods still views himself a formidable threat at golf's grandest sites. Any suggestion that he isn't has been warded off. So, when Colin Montgomerie, a longtime European Tour and, now, PGA Tour Champions veteran, revealed his belief that it would be in Woods' best interest to walk away from the sport sooner rather than later, Woods served up quite the response, saying he's free to play in the tournament since he's a former champ.
“Well, as a past champion, I'm exempt until I'm 60. Colin's not,” Woods said. “He's not a past champion, so he's not exempt. So he doesn't get the opportunity to make that decision. I do.’’
Woods offered just the sort of rebuttal one would expect from one of the greatest golfers to have ever lived, challenging Montgomerie and, more specifically, his merits to cast judgment on the on-the-course moves of a habitual winner like Woods. Montgomerie, for all of his merits, never took home a major crown, finishing second in the Open Championship (2005), PGA Championship (1995) and U.S. Open (1994, 1997, 2006).
“I’ll play as long as I can play and I feel like I can still win the event," Woods added.
Woods finished his epic clap-back towards Montgomerie with a flourish, leaving no doubt about the pair's vastly different standing in the world of golf.
“So when I get to his age, I get to still make that decision, where he doesn't.”
What did Colin Montgomerie say about Tiger Woods?
Montgomerie, speaking in a wide-ranging interview with Time of London, revealed his thoughts on Woods continuing to compete in major championships despite major injury and Father Time scorning many of his recent showings on golf's most prestigious courses.
“I hope people remember Tiger as Tiger was, the passion and the charismatic aura around him," Montgomerie told the Times . “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."
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Since suffering multiple fractures to the upper and lower fibula and tibia in his right leg after his 2021 car accident, Woods' best showing at a major is a 47th-place finish at the 2022 Masters.
Montgomerie claimed Woods had the perfect opportunity to ride off in the sunset following the 2022 Open Championship, held at the idyllic St. Andrews — the site of two of Woods' three Open victories.
“That was the time,” Montgomerie said. “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. 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."
He's kept up with appearances in the years since, however. For Montgomerie, that feels like a failing pursuit, one that is antithetical to the golf others are seeing Woods play as he gets older.
“There is a time for all sportsmen to say goodbye but it’s very difficult to tell Tiger it’s time to go," Montgomerie added. "Obviously, he still feels he can win. We are more realistic.”
Following Woods' remarks, Montgomerie called on members of golf media to ask him for his side of the story rather than regurgitating portions of the Times of London interview.
Open Championship exemption rules, explained
The Open Championship allows for former winners to play in the competition until they reach the age of 55. Former champions aren't required to qualify to compete in the tournament. Rather, they're granted eligibility status automatically as a result of their past win(s).
Previously, the age limit on exemption status for a former champion was set at 60. It was reduced from 60 earlier this year.
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