Belief! This is what keeps the GOAT going! Tiger Woods still believes that he can win, and this shows in his preparations! Otherwise, why would he come straight to Royal Troon after a long flight to Scotland? The 48-year-old golfer, who is exempt from playing in the Open Championship until he is 60, thanks to his three Claret Jugs, has now retorted back to Montgomerie’s harsh remarks. Looking at the opposite end of his career, the 15-time major winner now claims that he has the capacity and opportunity to win.

In the pre-tournament press conference of the 152nd edition of The Open Championship, Woods was reminded of the harsh remarks made about him by the Scottish golf veteran, Colin Montgomerie. The golfer was asked if he would have taken any advice when it suggested quitting golf. Woods distinctly said, “I’ll play as long as I can play, and I feel like I can still win the event.” When he was further asked whether this belief had ever been contested by him in the last two years, Woods could give only one straightforward answer. He said, “No.”

Finally, when the question about Montgomerie was brought up, the highly decorated golfer had stern points in his defense. The 3-times Open Champion replied, “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.”

Woods was further prompted to reply about whether he truly believed that he deserved his exemption. The 82-time PGA Tour-winning legend again threw mud at Montgomerie. The latter has not achieved what Woods has, and hence, the question of deserving can be better explained by Tiger Woods himself. He thus replied, “So when I get to his age, I get to still make that decision, where he doesn’t.”

But what was it that Colin Montgomerie said for Tiger Woods to speak so sharply? Let us look into the Scottish golf veteran’s verdict about Woods’ career.

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Colin Montgomerie believes Tiger Woods has lost his charm

The former Scottish professional golfer, Colin Montgomerie, expressed his concern about Tiger Woods continuing to play. His major issue was a scar on the legend’s reputation. He remarked how people are seeing a version of Woods where he is not as fierce as he once was. Thus, he said, “These guys only know Tiger Woods missing the cut, and he’s better than that, the best we’ve ever seen.”

But that was not all. He reminded his audience that Woods was legendary on the greens because he enjoyed his shots. Things have changed now. “I hope people remember Tiger as Tiger was—the passion and the charismatic aura around him. There is none of that now,“ said Montgomerie. He further mentioned how Woods missed a cut in this season’s US Open because of the same reason, and he might repeat the history in the Open Championship at Royal Troon. 

When Montgomerie was reminded that Woods wanted to quit when he did not feel competitive anymore, the veteran had something bold to establish. He said, “Aren’t we there? I’d have thought we were past there. 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.”

What do you think? Should Tiger Woods really hang his golf clubs now? Or should he continue to play with the motivation and will that he already has? Let us know in the comments below.