Tiger Woods Throws Serious Shade at Golf Hall of Famer Who Said He Should Retire: ‘He’s Not a Past Champion’

Tiger Woods responded to a former golfer saying he should be retire with an all-time mic drop moment ahead of this weekend’s Open Championship.

Scottish golfer Colin Montgomerie — a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame — talked about Woods in a recent interview with UK newspaper The Times . He claimed that Woods no longer has the “passion” and the “charismatic aura” that made him great in his prime. Montgomerie added that golf fans today “only know Tiger Woods missing the cut,” insisting that Woods should retire to preserve his legacy.

On Tuesday morning, Woods shut down the idea of him retiring soon in a way that only he could.

“Well, as a past champion, I’m exempt until I’m 60,” Woods said at a pre-tournament press conference. “Colin’s not. He’s not a past champion, so he’s not exempt; so he doesn’t get that opportunity to make that decision. I do.”

Several people in the room began laughing as Woods gave a slight grin at his own comments. He then doubled down when a reporter asked if he earned the right to continue playing.

“So, when I get to his age, I’ll make that decision,” Woods continued, “but he doesn’t.”

Past champions of The Open are eligible in all future tournaments until the age of 60. Woods won it three times in 2000, 2005, and 2006.

Additionally, the PGA announced a special exemption for the tour’s “signature events,” giving any golfer with at least 80 career wins automatic eligibility for the big-money tournaments. Woods — with 82 career wins — is the only golfer who meets that criteria.

Watch above via The Open Championship