Colin Montgomerie believes Tiger Woods has lost his ‘aura’ – as the 15-time major champion’s golfing struggles continue.
Woods is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of golf but has struggled to compete on the PGA Tour
since suffering leg injuries in a serious car crash three-and-a-half years ago. The 48-year-old has only made the cut once this year – at the Masters – having competed in just five tournaments.
Montgomerie, who shared many great battles with Woods at the start of the century, sparked outrage last month when he appeared to suggest his old rival should retire.
The 61-year-old has since clarified those comments, insisting he was misunderstood.
Nevertheless, Woods was still asked about Montgomerie’s opinion ahead of last month’s Open Championship at Troon.
When asked if he should retire, Woods replied: “Well, as a past champion, I’m exempt. Colin’s not.
He’s not a past champion, so he’s not exempt. So he doesn’t get the opportunity to make that decision. I do.”
Montgomerie has now addressed the issue again in an interview with the Daily Mail. “Yes, I was,” he said when asked if he was misunderstood. “The journalist (at the press conference) said my name and used the word ‘retire’ and that was wrong.
“I didn’t say ‘retire’. I wanted him (Woods) to be remembered as the player he was and not the player he currently is. The last five or six majors have not been good (for Woods). And I want him to be remembered the way he was as a contender and not just as a competitor.
“It’s a shame to see because the enjoyment doesn’t seem to be there for him as it was when he was contending. It was that fist pump, it was the whole Tiger scene around him, that aura that he had which was incredible. I don’t see that. No. And it’s a shame.”
Montgomerie hopes Woods’ golfing story doesn’t “fizzle out” at the Masters next year, but the five-time champion at Augusta is undoubtedly battling to save his professional career. He planned to play one event per month in 2024, but that didn’t happen.
Woods will make his next appearance in December at The Hero World Challenge. If he continues to struggle to compete on the PGA Tour, the iconic golfer will be eligible to join the Champions Tour when he turns 50 in December 2025.
Montgomerie himself knows what it takes to be successful on the Champions Tour, having won three senior majors. “The first one was the USPGA in 2014 and I thought, right, now I belong,” added Montgomerie in his interview with the Daily Mail.
“It felt like a tick in the right box and it gave me huge confidence. I won the US Open and another PGA the following year. It was a big deal.”
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Source: USA Today
