Collin Montgomerie, one of the greatest European golfers of all time, says that Tiger Woods could’ve left the competitive golf world in legendary fashion this past summer at St. Andrew’s.
If you recall, Woods was going to miss the cut in the 150th Open Championship at the “Home of Golf,” and he was met with thunderous applause as he crossed the iconic Swilcan Bridge on the 18th hole.
.@TigerWoods removed his cap a few strides from Swilcan Bridge, knowing it might be the last time he crossed over in a British Open at St. Andrews. This is where the legends pause and wave goodbye. Woods kept walking as tears began to form in his eyes: https://t.co/YyZQMzP5co pic.twitter.com/gbcH3jVo9r
— The Associated Press (@AP) July 15, 2022
But the fact that Woods didn’t pause on the bridge told the golf world that he was going to keep playing.
Montgomerie says that one of golf’s most iconic figures could’ve left the sport on top, speaking to The Bunkered Podcast:
“It would have been a glorious way to go. The stands were full, the world’s TV cameras – from all continents – were on him, he was walking up there on his own, tears were in his eyes obviously – you can’t beat that walk. I’ve done it myself. When the stands are full, you cannot beat that walk.
“I was tearful playing with him in 2005 in the third round with the Scottish support. I tell you what, that is a special, special arena. It’s a theatre. That was the time for Tiger to say, ‘Okay, I bow out.’”
The Scottish golf legend doesn’t own a major win but finished runner-up in a total of five, including in the Open Championship at St. Andrew’s in 2005, where he lost to Woods. In addition, Monty ranks fourth all-time on the DP World Tour (formerly European Tour) win list.
The 72nd hole at the ’06 U.S. Open wreaked havoc on many players.
Collin Montgomerie was one of them. pic.twitter.com/3ca9MRZdwf
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 16, 2020
Woods has expressed his desire to continue playing in the four majors along with a couple of events scattered throughout the year (one is likely his Hero World Challenge each December). While he’s still recovering from the February 2021 auto accident, Woods skipped the U.S. Open this year but played in the other three majors.
Cover Image Via Twitter
