Longtime rival's brutal take on stubborn Tiger

1 year ago 77

Former satellite No.2 Colin Montgomerie says Tiger Woods missed a aureate accidental to discontinue astatine this year's Open Championship, declaring the 15-time large champion volition ne'er triumph different PGA Tour event.

Woods missed the chopped by 9 shots astatine St Andrews, inactive struggling with the limb injuries helium sustained successful a superior car clang successful 2021.

The 46-year-old finished 47th astatine the Masters successful April, but was forced to retreat from the PGA Championship successful May and didn't play the US Open successful June.

The Open Championship successful July remains the astir caller authoritative lawsuit he's played, though helium did instrumentality portion successful The Match connected Sunday, and volition play the PNC Championship with lad Charlie starting connected Friday.

Both The Match and the PNC Championship let Woods to usage a cart, which is forbidden successful authoritative events.

Montgomerie, who finished 2nd to Woods astatine the 2005 Open astatine St Andrews, says this year's title would person been the cleanable clip to bow out, emulating legends similar Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson by saying goodbye from the centuries-old Swilcan Bridge.

"That was the time," said Montgomerie connected The Bunkered Podcast.

"Stand connected that bridge, commencement waving, and everyone goes, 'So, is that it?'. Yeah, it is. It would person been a glorious mode to go. The stands were full, the world's TV cameras – from each continents – were connected him, he's walking up determination connected his own, tears were successful his eyes, obviously, you can't bushed that walk.

"I've done it myself. When the stands are full, you cannot bushed that walk. … I archer you what, that is simply a special, peculiar arena. It's a theatre. That was the clip for Tiger to say, 'OK, I bow out'."

"Why spell on? Go retired astatine the top. It's thing that precise fewer tin do."

Woods and Sam Snead person each won 82 PGA Tour events, 9 wide of Nicklaus successful 3rd spot.

But Montgomerie doesn't judge Woods volition ever assertion the apical spot alone.

"I don't spot him doing that (winning again)," Montgomerie said.

"Listen, yes, he's great. But Tiger doesn't person to present conscionable get backmost to the modular helium was performing astatine then. He has to amended it. The modular is improving each the time, and there's not 1 oregon 2 guys that tin bushed him now. There's 22 guys that tin bushed him.

"So, it's Tiger trying to get not backmost to wherever helium was but to get to a modular he's ne'er been astatine earlier and I don't deliberation that's possible.

"I can't spot that happening. I'd emotion it to hap due to the fact that it's large for the game. I would emotion him to win. But I conscionable can't spot it happening."

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