Tiger Woods puts Colin Montgomerie in his place ahead of The Open Championship

Tiger Woods couldn't help but respond to Colin Montgomerie's suggestion that he should retire from competitive golf ahead of this week's Open Championship.

Woods is only making his fifth appearance of the year at Royal Troon, as the 15-time major winner continues to play a limited schedule due to ongoing health issues. In his four outings in 2024, Woods has only made the cut once, at the Masters, and was also forced to pull out of the Genesis Invitational due to illness.

It's clear that the 82-time PGA Tour victor is no longer the powerhouse he once was in the sport, with increasing uncertainty surrounding his future as he grapples with numerous injuries. And the latest person to comment on Woods' playing career was Montgomerie, who said: "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?'."

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"He's coming to Troon and he won't enjoy it there either." Discussing the possibility of Woods retiring, the Scot continued: "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 phone in. We are more realistic."

As the golf legend geared up for this week's showdown in Ayrshire, Montgomerie's jabs were tossed Tiger Woods' way, leading to a sharp comeback worthy of its own headline.

The golf titan made it crystal clear who's boss, sniping back with, "Well, as a past champion, I'm exempt until I'm 60. Colin is not," Woods clapped back. "He is 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, where he doesn't."

Woods is gunning for a bounce-back at his next major meeting, eager to eclipse his earlier season struggles. Tiger cast a light on his rigorous prep time by sharing, "I've been training a lot better. We've been busting it pretty hard in the gym, which has been good."

His physical shape appears to be rallying in his favor, "The body has been feeling better to be able to do such things, and it translates on being able to hit the ball better. Can't quite stay out there during a practice session as long as I'd like, but I'm able to do some things that I haven't done all year, which is nice."

Flaunting his undimmed ambition and brimming with conviction, he articulated: "I'll play as long as I can play and I feel like I can still win the event."