Tiger Woods on the greens does not excite the same emotions as many felt before. The reason could be his declining rate of accomplishment. However, the underlying root cause of the same can be found somewhere else as well. Let us hear from the Scottish professional golfer, Colin Montgomerie who won 31 times on the DPWT.

In the last two majors, Woods did not make the cut, while in the Masters, he was dead last, finishing at T60. These numbers might not be surprising. However, in an interview, Montgomerie explained exactly what is going wrong with Tiger Woods now. And the answer lies in whether the golfer himself enjoys his shots or not. He said, “I hope people remember Tiger as Tiger was—the passion and the charismatic aura around him.”

Montgomerie then used six words to explain Woods at present compared to his glory in the past. He gave the 6-word verdict, “There is none of that now.” Then the golfer further added, “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.”

But what is the reason that Woods gives for staying active in golf? The 82-time PGA Tour winner once commented on how he would stop playing once he registered himself as no longer competitive. When the golf veteran heard this, he replied, “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.”

USA Today via Reuters

Colin Montgomerie is no Tiger Woods hater. It is quite the opposite. The reason he brought this issue up is because he fears the present generation’s verdict on the legend. He reflected, “These guys only know Tiger Woods missing the cut, and he’s better than that, the best we’ve ever seen.” But when did it all start?

Tiger Woods’s beginning of a declining career

Tiger Woods was the youngest to win a career grand slam. He has won three so far. Although he won his latest major in 2019 at Augusta, the golfer’s buzzing career almost came to a halt in 2008 when he won 14 of his major titles out of 15.

With a five-year, $105 million contract extension with Nike in 2000, the golfer was at his peak among the athletes in his niche. After five years, from 2005 to 2010, Woods has also been the World No. 1 for a stretch. However, things took a massive turn soon after.

According to NBC News, Woods’ decline in golf has in turn brought about a decline in the sport quite hand in hand. They claimed, “The decline in golf’s popularity coincided with Woods’ 2009-2010 infidelity and divorce and recent physical ailments, said Rishe, and so has a lot of enthusiasm for the average person to pick up the game.”

Moreover, Woods’s long-persisted leg and ankle injuries and their subsequent surgeries since 2009 had also brought down his game play and participation. From World No. 1 to out of the top 500, according to Sporting News, this happened in 2016.

What do you think is the reason that Tiger Woods is losing his popularity in the game of golf? Or is he losing any as per you? Let us know in the comments below.