Tiger Woods lashes back at Colin Montgomerie at The Open after being told to retire

Tiger Woods has hit back at Colin Montgomerie (Image: Getty Images)

Tiger Woods has hit back at Colin Montgomerie after the Scottish golfer suggested that Woods should consider retiring ahead of this week's Open Championship.

Woods, a 15-time major champion, is only making his fifth appearance of the year at Royal Troon as he continues to grapple with fitness 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.

The 82-time PGA Tour champion is no longer the formidable force he once was in the sport, with increasing doubts being raised about his future as he continues to struggle with various injuries.

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Montgomerie recently weighed in on Woods' career, telling The Times: "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?'

"He's coming to Troon and he won't enjoy it there either." On the topic of Woods' potential retirement, the Scot added: "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."

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Tiger Woods is in Open action this week (Image: Getty Images)

"Obviously, he still feels he can win. We are more realistic." These were the words put to Woods ahead of the Ayrshire event this week. The golfing legend delivered a stinging retort, pointing out his privilege as a past champion of The Open - an accolade Montgomerie has never secured.

"Well, as a past champion, I'm exempt until I'm 60. Colin is not," Woods stated on Tuesday.

"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 looking to bounce back from recent performances and was optimistic about his preparation for the year's final major.

"I've been training a lot better. We've been busting it pretty hard in the gym, which has been good," he said, noting improvements in his physical condition and its positive impact on his game.

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"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."

Undeterred by challenges, Woods expressed his enduring ambition: "I'll play as long as I can play and I feel like I can still win the event."

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Tiger Woods lashes back at Colin Montgomerie at The Open after being told to retire

Tiger Woods lashes back at Colin Montgomerie at The Open after being told to retire

Tiger Woods lashes back at Colin Montgomerie at The Open after being told to retire

Tiger Woods lashes back at Colin Montgomerie at The Open after being told to retire

Tiger Woods lashes back at Colin Montgomerie at The Open after being told to retire