Tiger Woods responded to Colin Montgomerie’s claims that he should retire ahead of this week’s Open Championship – and the Scot has now issued a public statement backtracking from his own words

Colin Montgomerie responded on social media after Tiger Woods reacted to his assertion that the 82-time PGA Tour winner should end his playing career ahead of this week’s Open Championship.

In anticipation of the year’s last major, Montgomerie critiqued Wood’s choice to play at Royal Troon this week, in light of his ongoing physical challenges. “I hope people remember Tiger as Tiger was, the passion and the charismatic aura around him,” he told The Times.

“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….

“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.”

When Montgomerie’s comments were presented to Woods at Royal Troon this week, he pointed out that being a past champion, he’s permitted to compete at The Open until he turns 60 a privilege the Scotsman does not possess.

“Well, as a past champion, I’m exempt until I’m 60. Colin is not,” he said on Tuesday. “He is not a past champion, so he’s not exempt. So he doesn’t get the opportunity to make that decision. I do. So when I get to his age, I get to still make that decision, where he doesn’t.”

In the aftermath of Woods’ response, Montgomerie has been quick to clarify his comments, claiming that they had been taken out of context. “If Golf Writers want my thoughts on Tiger please ask me direct, rather than taking a quote from an interview out of context,” he said. “Wishing Tiger an enjoyable and successful week.”

Tiger Woods is in Open action this week ( Image: Getty Images)Montgomerie has not shied away from commenting on Woods’ career trajectory in the past. The seasoned European pro has openly suggested that Woods should have taken his final bow at the 2022 Open, where he poignantly acknowledged the crowd at St. Andrews while standing on the famed Swilcan Bridge during the last hole of his second round.

“I just wish Tiger had gone after he waved on that Swilken bridge at St Andrews a couple of years ago,” Montgomerie expressed to talkSPORT back in April. “He’s kept going, he thinks he can do it but it’s quite obvious now physically and mentally, that he can’t. He’s competing once a month and it’s not enough.

“You can’t play once a month and hope to contend with these guys now… I wish he’d waved goodbye to the golfing word a couple of years ago.”

Meanwhile, aside from the chatter about hanging up his clubs, Woods is prepping for only his fifth event of the season at this week’s championship. His quest at Royal Troon begins Thursday, teeing off with compatriots Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay.