Tiger Woods insists he nonetheless believes he can add to his main tally on the Open and has hit again at Colin Montgomerie’s suggestion he ought to retire.
The previous world primary has had a restricted match schedule since struggling career-threatening accidents in a crash in February 2021, though he’s anticipated to compete in all 4 majors in a calendar 12 months for the primary time since 2019 Win the championship.
Woods completed final amongst those that made the lower on the Masters and suffered early exits at each the PGA Championship and U.S. Open, and Montgomery questioned whether or not he ought to cease enjoying professionally in an interview earlier than the ultimate males’s main of the 12 months.
Requested if he was responding to Montgomery’s feedback, Woods mentioned at his pre-tournament press convention: “So long as I can play, I am going to play and really feel like I can nonetheless win.
“As a previous (Open) champion, I am exempt till I am 60. Colin [Montgomerie] It is not that as a result of he is not a previous champion, he is not immune.
“He does not have the appropriate to make that call. I do. Once I get to his age, I get to make that call. He does not.”
Woods performed an 18-hole observe spherical on Sunday and was on the course once more Monday morning for a observe spherical with Justin Thomas and Max Homa, and the 48-year-old Woods was happy with the progress he is made bodily.
“My coaching is quite a bit higher,” Woods mentioned. “We have been working exhausting within the fitness center, which is sweet. Having the ability to do this stuff and really feel higher bodily means having the ability to hit the ball higher.
“I couldn’t keep out as a lot as I needed to throughout observe, however I used to be capable of do some issues I hadn’t completed all 12 months, which was good.”
Ryder Cup choice ‘very tough’
Woods was broadly anticipated to captain the U.S. crew on the subsequent Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, however he declined the position due to his involvement within the PGA Tour’s negotiations with the Saudi Arabian Public Funding Fund.
“This choice was very tough for me,” Woods added. “My time is consumed by this tour and all the things we need to accomplish.
“I used to be on so many subcommittees and it was taking on so many hours a day that I instructed Seth[Waugh, CEO of the PGA of America]that I simply did not really feel like I may do the job nicely and I could not put within the time. .
“I barely have sufficient time to do what I am doing now and add TGL [golf league created by Woods and Rory McIlroy] Beginning subsequent 12 months, there’s additionally the Ryder Cup. You add all of that collectively, and then you definitely add in our negotiations with the PIF, all of that are occurring concurrently on the identical time, and there are solely so many hours in a day.
“If I have been captain and took on all the things I needed to do, I do not suppose I might be doing justice as a captain, a participant or Crew USA.”
Woods reveals post-US Open message to McIlroy
Rory McIlroy may have one other likelihood to finish his main drought after dramatically squandering a two-shot lead within the closing holes of final month’s US Open, Woods has revealed at Coronary heart of the Pines After breaking apart, he reached out to the folks of Northern Eire.
“I simply despatched him an important textual content,” Woods mentioned. “That is it. I waited every week earlier than I despatched it. I needed it to cool down. I knew he was coping with numerous various things, so simply let it cool down for every week.”
When requested for his perspective, Woods defined: “Principally, as , I am your buddy. I do know this can be a tough second. We’re all champions. All of us misplaced.
“Sadly, it simply occurred and the uncooked emotion of it’s nonetheless there and I am certain it is going to be for some time.
“The earlier he can get again on the horse and get again into competition, like he did final week, the higher for him.”
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