Golf legend Colin Montgomerie has asked Tiger Woods to retire, saying the legend has lost the “passion and charisma” that made him the best in the sport.
Woods, 48, is still the biggest draw in golf, but the number of tournaments he participates in is declining significantly due to health problems.
He has undergone five back surgeries and four knee surgeries and broke his right leg and ankle in a horrific car accident in Los Angeles in February 2021.
As a result, Woods has played in just four PGA Tour events this year, missing the cut at both the PGA Championship in May and the U.S. Open.
Woods will play The Open at Royal Troon next week, but has indicated this will be his last tournament of 2024.
Golf legend Colin Montgomerie has told Tiger Woods to retire as he is still in trouble
Montgomerie says Woods has lost the ‘passion and charisma’ that made him a legend
Montgomerie, a Ryder Cup legend and former world number two, believes it is time for Woods to finally say goodbye.
“Aren’t we there? I thought we were,” Montgomerie told The Times.
“There is a time for all athletes to say goodbye, but it is very difficult to tell Tiger that it is time to go. He clearly still feels that he can win. We are more realistic.
‘I hope people remember Tiger for who he was, the passion and the charismatic aura around him. That’s not there anymore.
‘At Pinehurst he didn’t seem to like any shots and then you think, “What the hell is he doing?” He comes to Troon and he won’t like it there either.’
Earlier this week, Woods said turned down the American captaincy for the 2025 Ryder Cup due to his time-consuming role in the PGA Tour’s negotiations with the Saudi backers of LIV Golf.
Woods, who was the heavy favorite to take over as captain, turned down the offer. Keegan Bradley took on the role.