Tiger Woods should have quit after this year's Open Championship, says Colin Montgomerie
Former world No.2 Colin Montgomerie says Tiger Woods missed a golden opportunity to retire at this year's Open Championship, declaring the 15-time major champion will never win another PGA Tour event.
Woods missed the cut by nine shots at St Andrews, still struggling with the leg injuries he sustained in a serious car crash in 2021.
The 46-year-old finished 47th at the Masters in April, but was forced to withdraw from the PGA Championship in May and didn't play the US Open in June.
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The Open Championship in July remains the most recent official event he's played, although he did take part in The Match on Sunday, and will play the PNC Championship with son Charlie starting on Friday.
Both The Match and the PNC Championship allow Woods to use a cart, which is forbidden in official events.
Montgomerie, who finished second to Woods at the 2005 Open at St Andrews, says this year's championship would have been the perfect time to bow out, emulating legends like Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson by saying goodbye from the centuries-old Swilcan Bridge.
Tiger Woods crosses the Swilcan Bridge during the second round of the Open Championship in July. Andrew Redington/Getty Images
"That was the time," said Montgomerie on The Bunkered Podcast.
"Stand on that bridge, start waving, and everyone goes, 'So, is that it?'. Yeah, it is. It would have been a glorious way to go. The stands were full, the world's TV cameras – from all continents – were on him, he's walking up there on his own, tears were in his eyes, obviously, you can't beat that walk.
"I've done it myself. When the stands are full, you cannot beat that walk. … I tell you what, that is a special, special arena. It's a theatre. That was the time for Tiger to say, 'OK, I bow out'."
"Why go on? Go out at the top. It's something that very few can do."
Woods and Sam Snead have each won 82 PGA Tour events, nine clear of Nicklaus in third spot.
Tom Watson bids farewell from the Swilcan Bridge during the 2015 Open Championship. Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
But Montgomerie doesn't believe Woods will ever claim the top spot alone.
"I don't see him doing that (winning again)," Montgomerie said.
"Listen, yes, he's great. But Tiger doesn't have to now just get back to the standard he was performing at then. He has to improve it. The standard is improving all the time, and there's not one or two guys that can beat him now. There's 22 guys that can beat him.
"So, it's Tiger trying to get not back to where he was but to get to a standard he's never been at before and I don't think that's possible.
"I can't see that happening. I'd love it to happen because it's great for the game. I would love him to win. But I just can't see it happening."
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