Montgomerie suggests Tiger should retire: 'What the hell is he doing?'
World Golf Hall of Famer Colin Montgomerie thinks the time for Tiger Woods to retire from competitive golf is long gone.
Montogmerie, who was runner-up to Woods at the 2005 Open Championship, provided his two cents on the 15-time major champion's career ahead of next week's Open at Royal Troon.
"I hope people remember Tiger as Tiger was - the passion and the charismatic aura around him," Montgomerie told The Times' Rick Broadbent. "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."
Woods missed the cut at last month's U.S. Open as well as at May's PGA Championship. He withdrew from his season debut at the Genesis Invitational and finished 60th at the Masters.
He said before almost every appearance that he still believes he can win, but Montgomerie disagrees.
"Aren't we there? I'd have thought we were past there," he said. "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."
Woods, 48, is an 82-time TOUR winner and has an exemption at The Open until he's 60. He's eligible for life at the Masters and PGA Championship and was recently given special status to play in all signature events for his lifetime achievement.
Montgomerie, 61, is active on the PGA TOUR Champions. He's earned 54 professional wins and has a rich history in the Ryder Cup as part of the European side.
Despite his blunt assessment of Woods' future, Montgomerie wasn't disparaging his past achievements.
"These guys only know Tiger Woods missing the cut, and he's better than that - the best we've ever seen," Montgomerie said.
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