Rickie Fowler is adamant that Tiger Woods, despite recent struggles and speculation about his future, still has a significant amount of time left at the top-tier of golf.
As The Open Championship at Royal Troon gets underway today, Fowler's endorsement comes amidst doubts cast by Colin Montgomerie - who questioned whether it's time for Woods to hang up his clubs.
Montgomerie expressed his concerns to The Times, lamenting the loss of Woods' once-dominant presence on the course: "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." Montgomerie also pondered over the timing of his eventual retirement, hinting that Woods might have already reached that juncture.
"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 win. We are more realistic."
However, Fowler, speaking to Mirror Sport on the eve of The Open, remains optimistic about Woods' prospects, emphasizing the positive impact he has on the sport: "He still has plenty of good golf in him. The game is better when we have him around."
Tiger Woods, the three-time Open champion, is still the main attraction in golf, drawing massive crowds at Royal Troon this week. His presence on the course is a delight not only to fans but also to fellow players like Fowler, who expressed his admiration for Woods' efforts to stay in the game.
"I love being able to have Tiger [here]," Fowler said. "He has been trying to continue to make sure he is ready to go, playing the majors and then hopefully a few other events on top of that... I would love to see him continue to stay healthy so he can play a select group of events throughout the year."
Woods himself, during his pre-championship press conference on Tuesday, responded to Montgomerie's remarks by highlighting his exemption status as a past champion, which allows him to play The Open until he turns 60 - a privilege Montgomerie does not share. "Well, as a past champion, I'm exempt until I'm 60. Colin is not," Woods retorted.
"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."
