Ex-Ryder Cup captain believes "it is time for Tiger Woods to go", calls for 15-time Major winner to retire
Tiger Woods has only managed to play in three tournaments this PGA Tour season, all of them majors. The one other tournament that he participated in was the Genesis Invitational, but he withdrew from it midway.
Ever since his car crash in 2021 and the subsequent injuries that have followed, Tiger Woods has struggled to compete. Adding to that, Woods also underwent surgery and rehabilitation for plantar fasciitis after the 2023 Masters, which forced him to take the entire season off.
2010 Ryder Cup captain and 31-time European Tour winner Colin Montgomerie recently spoke about Woods' future. According to Montgomerie, the time has come for Woods to call time on his career. He said that while Woods does have hopes of being competitive in the future, the reality of the situation is quite different. Here's what Montgomerie said: (via Golf Magic)
"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."
Montgomerie added that it's now apparent Woods isn't enjoying the game, which isn't a good sign. He hoped people would remember Woods for the player he was rather than what he is currently.
"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," he said.
Woods is all set to play in the 2024 Open Championship, and Montgomerie hopes that it will be his last tournament on the PGA Tour.
Tiger Woods rejects 2025 Ryder Cup captaincy despite being the favorite to accept the role
Tiger Woods was one of the top favorites to become the captain of Team USA for the 2025 Ryder Cup. However, just days ahead of the announcement, Woods rejected the position. Eventually, Keegan Bradley was handed the reigns of the side.
Breaking his silence, Woods revealed that his decision to decline captaincy stemmed from his off-field commitments. Woods has been an integral part of the PGA Tour and PIF negotiations, as well as the TGL League. Speaking via Golf.com, Woods said:
“With my new responsibilities to the Tour and time commitments involved I felt I would not be able to commit the time to Team USA and the players required as a captain. That does not mean I wouldn’t want to captain a team in the future. If/when I feel it is the right time, I will put my hat in the ring for this committee to decide.”
With his nomination, Keegan Bradley is set to become the youngest Ryder Cup captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963.