It was suggested by Colin Montgomerie that Tiger Woods should call time on his playing career ahead of The Open, and one fan at Royal Troon made their feelings known on the matter

“Prove Monty wrong!” was the cry on the first tee at Royal Troon as Tiger Woods got his first round of The Open Championship underway on Thursday.

Woods is making just his fifth start of the year this week, as the 82-time PGA Tour champion continues to play a part-time schedule amid struggles over his fitness. His injury setbacks have unsurprisingly hampered his game in recent years, and heading into this week’s event his future was questioned.

Woods’ former rival in Colin Montgomerie suggested it could well be time for the 15-time major winner to call time on his playing days, telling The Times: “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?’.” Questions Woods’ previous claims that he would only retire when he was no longer competitive, Montgomerie added: “Aren’t we there? I’d have thought we were past there.

Tiger Woods has dismissed suggestions that he should retire from professional golf as he prepares to mount a challenge for the British Open, which begins at Royal Troon on Thursday.

The American golfer won the last of his 15 majors at the 2019 Masters, with his most recent professional victory coming later that year at the Zozo Championship. Since then, he has faced significant challenges, particularly after a car accident in 2021 that nearly resulted in the loss of his right leg.

After missing the cut at last month’s US Open, former world number two Colin Montgomerie, who famously never won a major, suggested it might be time for the 82-time PGA Tour event winner to retire.

“There is a time for all sportsmen to say goodbye, but it’s very difficult to tell Tiger Woods it’s time to go,” Montgomerie said. “Obviously, he still feels he can win. We are more realistic.”

When asked about those comments ahead of the Open at Royal Troon, Tiger Woods responded: “Well, as a past champion, I’m exempt until I’m 60. Colin’s not. He’s not a past champion, so he’s not exempt, so he doesn’t get the opportunity to make that decision. I do. I’ll play as long as I can play, and I feel like I can still win the event.”

Asked if his belief in his ability to win had wavered during his struggles over the last two years, Woods replied: “No.”

His press conference comments prompted a swift response from Montgomerie. “If golf writers want my thoughts on Tiger, please ask me directly, rather than taking a quote from an interview out of context. Wishing Tiger Woods an enjoyable and successful week,” Montgomerie posted on X.

The former top golfer’s hopes of turning back the clock have not been helped by tournaments favouring the biggest hitters in the game as driving distances get longer. However, he believes that Royal Troon may play to his strengths. On this links course, accuracy has an edge over distance, boosting Woods’ chances of at least cutting.

“The older you get, the less you can carry the golf ball, but over here, you can run the golf ball 100 yards if you get the right wind and the right trajectory,” said Woods, who won the Open in 2000, 2005, and 2006.

“I think that’s one of the reasons why you see older champions up there on the board because they’re not forced to have to carry the ball 320 yards anymore. I’ve been training a lot better. We’ve been busting it pretty hard in the gym, which has been good.”

The 48-year-old dismissed retirement suggestions, having last won a major at the 2019 Masters and his most recent professional victory at the 2019 Zozo Championship.

Woods has faced significant struggles since a 2021 car accident that nearly cost him his right leg. After missing the cut at last month’s US Open, former world number two Colin Montgomerie suggested it might be time for Woods to retire. “There is a time for all sportsmen to say goodbye, but it’s very difficult to tell Tiger it’s time to go,” Montgomerie said. “Obviously, he still feels he can win. We are more realistic.”

In response, Woods stated, “Well, as a past champion, I’m exempt until I’m 60. Colin’s not. He’s not a past champion, so he’s not exempt, so he doesn’t get the opportunity to make that decision. I do. I’ll play as long as I can play and I feel like I can still win the event.” When asked if his belief had wavered during recent struggles, Woods replied, “No.”

Montgomerie responded on X, stating, “If golf writers want my thoughts on Tiger, please ask me directly rather than taking a quote out of context. Wishing Tiger an enjoyable and successful week.”

Despite Woods’ confident statements, he is clearly no longer the dominant player he was for two decades. His chances of returning to form are not helped by the trend of tournaments favouring long drivers, but he believes Royal Troon could work to his advantage.

At Royal Troon, accuracy is more important than distance, which could boost Woods’ chances to make the cut. “The older you get, the less you can carry the ball, but on this course, you can let it roll,” said Woods, a three-time Open winner (2000, 2005, 2006).

He added, “That’s why older champions can still compete here. I’ve been working hard in the gym, and it’s helping my game.”

Woods also expressed confidence in Keegan Bradley as Ryder Cup captain for 2025. “I think Keegan will be a great leader; he’s very passionate about the event,” Woods said. He turned down the captaincy due to time constraints but said he might reconsider in the future: “When I have more time and can fully commit, I’ll put my hat in the ring again.”

Tiger Woods has revealed he feels jaded before Thursday’s first round of The Open Championship because he missed out on a night’s sleep on his private jet to Royal Troon as he watched the fallout of the attempted assassination of former US President Donald Trump.

Trump, 78, was millimetres away from death after a bullet grazed his ear during a rally in Pennsylvania on the weekend.

Woods, who was on a flight from his Florida home at the time the news broke, was absorbed in the coverage of the incident.

“I didn’t accomplish a lot because I wasn’t in the right frame of mind,” Woods said. “It was a long night [because of the assassination attempt] and that’s all we watched the entire time on the way over here. I didn’t sleep at all on the flight, and then we just got on the golf course.”

Trump was wounded after multiple shots were fired from a sniper, later identified as Thomas Crooks. One other person was killed and two more injured before the 20-year-old Crooks was shot dead by Secret Service agents.

Woods has not engaged in political debate throughout his career but revealed in 2018 that he had known President Trump for numerous years before he took office. Woods has helped design courses for a Trump property in Dubai.

‘We’ve played golf together’

“I’ve known Donald for a number of years,” Woods told the New York Times. “We’ve played golf together. We’ve had dinner together. I’ve known him pre-presidency and obviously during his presidency.”

Trump presented Woods with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2019. He has also played rounds with another former president Barack Obama, whom Woods regarded as “incredible” for becoming the first African-American president in 2008.

This year will mark the first time since 2019 that Woods has competed in all four majors. He set the record for making his 24th consecutive cut at Augusta earlier this year before missing the cut at the US PGA Championship and the US Open.

Due to a catalogue of injuries – including the car crash three years ago that almost cost the 48-year-old his right leg – Woods takes hours to prepare for each round and so the draw has left him at a huge disadvantage.

It will be 8pm before he finishes his first round on Thursday and his Friday tee-time is 9.25am. His energy levels will be crucial to his hopes.

Tiger Woods didn’t sleep on Saturday night. The 15-time major champion said Tuesday that he was glued to a screen, watching for updates about the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.

“I didn’t accomplish a lot because I wasn’t in the right frame of mind. It was a long night, and that’s all we watched the entire time on the way over here,” Mr. Woods told BBC Sport. “I didn’t sleep at all on the flight, and then we just got on the golf course.”

Mr. Trump later wrote on social media that he was “fine” after a bullet grazed his right ear. The gunman also fatally shot a bystander, 50-year-old Corey Comperatore, according to authorities.

Mr. Woods, who flew to Scotland for this week’s British Open, has played golf with Mr. Trump in the past. The former president awarded Mr. Woods the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2019.

The legendary golfer has refused to publicly discuss his relationship with Mr. Trump.

“Well, he’s the president of the United States,” Mr. Woods said in 2019. “You have to respect the office. No matter who is in the office, you may like, dislike personality or the politics, but we all must respect the office.”

Mr. Woods will tee off at the British Open at 9:37 a.m. ET Thursday with Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay in his group.

The 15-time major champion is in line to compete in all four majors in one year for the first time since 2019

Tiger Woods arrived at Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland on Sunday and played an 18-hole practice round as he prepares for the 152nd Open Championship later this week.

Reports said Woods took an overnight flight and spent much of his day focusing on chipping, putting and bunker play.

According to PGATour.com, Woods is also scheduled for a solo practice round Monday afternoon and a Tuesday round with Max Homa and Justin Thomas.

The 15-time major champion is in line to compete in all four majors in one year for the first time since 2019. A serious single-car accident in 2021 nearly cost him his leg and he has played a restricted schedule since, usually consisting of majors, the Genesis Invitational (his foundation’s event) and exhibitions like the PNC Championship.

Woods, 48, tied for sixth at The Open as recently as 2018, but he has competed just twice since, missing the cut in 2019 and 2022. An ankle surgery in April 2023 forced him to miss most of the season. In the first three majors of 2024, Woods placed 60th at the Masters and missed the cut at the PGA Championship and U.S. Open.

Woods has played The Open at Royal Troon twice in his career. He tied for 24th in 1997 and tied for ninth in 2004. He was not in the field for the major’s most recent turn at Royal Troon in 2016.

We look at how Tiger Woods has fared in his previous Open Championship appearances at Royal Troon.

There have been some incredible Open Championship renewals at Royal Troon with some legendary winners – but Tiger Woods is not one of those having missed out in both of his previous visits.

The battle for the Claret Jug has been staged three times at the Ayrshire course since Woods has been on the scene, but he’s played in just two of them.

The 15-time Major champion has lifted the Claret Jug himself three times, and did produce some decent golf during his two visits to Troon, but never managed to string four rounds together.

1997 – WINNER: JUSTIN LEONARD

Tiger’s Position: T24 (72, 74, 64, 74)

Not a vintage Open performance from Woods but he did throw in a scintillating third round of 64 on Saturday to fire himself into contention heading into Sunday.

It was much needed after a poor start that resulted in him finishing his second round way down in four over while Darren Clarke led on nine under.

It was not like Woods at all on Friday, as he shot a three-over 74 while the rest of the field were sticking low scores in all over the place, with four of the top five shooting 66.

Woods started Sunday in T8 but a long way back of leader Jesper Parnevik (eight shots) and while the Swede did falter down the stretch, it was a different American who came with a late run to capture the Claret Jug.

Justin Leonard shot a sparkling 65 to claim a three-shot victory, while Woods went in the other direction as he could only manage a closing 74.

2004 – WINNER: TODD HAMILTON

Tiger’s Position: T9 (70, 71, 68, 72)

It was a similar story for Woods when he returned to Troon in 2004 with again the Saturday third round being his highlight when he carded a 68 to move up into T7.

That followed on from rather ordinary opening rounds of 70 and 71 to leave him on one under at halfway and six shots off leader Skip Kendall heading into the weekend.

Woods then went into the final round four shots off the lead, but once more he found it hard to make a dent on Sunday as he returned a one-over round of 72.

Instead, it was left to Todd Hamilton to win a thrilling playoff against Ernie Els to spring a big shock victory.