Tiger Woods responds. A few days ago, an interview with Colin Montgomerie in The Times came to light in which he expressed some regret about the moment Tiger was going through. He wondered if it was worth it for the American to continue competing. He believes that in a certain sense his legacy is diminished as he competes without aiming for great things. The champion of fifteen Majors did not like these statements at all and made it clear in the press conference prior to his participation in the 152nd edition of the Open Championship.
The exact statements of the Scotsman were as follows: “I hope people remember Tiger as he was, with the passion and charismatic aura that surrounded him. Now there is none of that. In Pinehurst he didn’t seem to enjoy a single shot and you think: ‘What the hell is he doing?’ He comes to Troon now, and he won’t enjoy it either”. A little later he insisted: “There is a time for all athletes to say goodbye, but it is very difficult to tell Tiger it is time to leave,” he said. “Obviously, he still feels he can win. We are more realistic”.
That said, the Scotsman’s words did not sit well with Tiger who responded emphatically. He has earned the right to decide and made it very clear in the press room: “As a tournament champion I am exempt until I am 60. Colin is not. He has not won the Open so he is not exempt and does not have the opportunity to make that decision. I do”, and he added: “When I reach his age, I will still be able to make that decision to play, while he will not”. Clear as water. Tiger intends to continue competing and statements like the Scotsman’s do not seem to please him too much. ‘For you to come back’, a hurt Woods must have thought.
Colin has reacted on social networks wishing Tiger a great week of golf and making it clear that his statements were taken out of context. Montgomerie aside, the American’s press conference has not left anyone indifferent and, as always, has covered a multitude of topics.
His game. Tiger feels that he is in a good time of the year and advancing every day more in the task of recovering his best version: “I have been training much better and working much more in the gym. My body has felt better and that translates into me hitting the ball better. I would like to be able to train longer, but I can do some things that I have not done all year, which is good”. Step by step.
The designated events. The 15-time major champion also spoke about the category that has been created so that he can play any designated event of the coming season: “They have been very kind with this exemption. However, I told them that if I was going to get that exemption, I was not going to take the place of the last player. If it were the case… let’s say hypothetically there are 72 players in the field at each of the Signature Events. If I want to play, I will be player number 73. I am not going to take someone else’s place. These guys have earned their spots, and I am not going to take them away”. A leader’s gesture.
Ryder Captaincy. Naturally, a question about Keegan Bradley and why he resigned the captaincy at Bethpage could not be missing. “The decision has been very difficult for me. but I am on so many different subcommittees that take up a lot of my day, I am always on the phone. I felt that I was not going to be able to dedicate the time that this job needs”.
About the new captain he has no doubt about his worth and the spirit of Ryder endorses him: “I think Keegan is going to be a great leader. He is passionate about what he does. He is passionate about the event. I think this is going to be probably a rotation year for us in the captaincies, whether it is the captain himself and his vice-captains. I think this is the natural progression, the one we have been waiting for, and I think it is that year”. When asked if he would be vice-captain he answered with a brief: “They have not asked me”.
His message to Rory. Tiger has revealed the message he wrote to the Northern Irishman after the tough defeat at the US Open. He wanted to leave a week of rest before saying anything: “I am your friend. I know it is a difficult time. All of us who have been champions have been there, we have all lost. Unfortunately, it just happened to you, and it will still be raw and sure to be for some time”. A nice message at a time when the relationship between the two has also been questioned.
His toughest defeat. Following the question about McIlroy, the Californian has told what for him is the toughest defeat of his career: “Probably, the toughest defeat to overcome was that of Y.E. Yang (PGA Championship 2009), because I was leading. I had never lost a major championship being the leader. It was the first one. It took me a little time to get over it because I made some pretty stupid mistakes. I made a great comeback at the end, but it was too late. I made too many mistakes in the middle. You can’t afford to make the mistakes I made and win tournaments”.
The negotiations between PIF, PGA and the American fund. “I can tell you that we are making progress. I should not say more than that because we are not going to make the negotiations public, but things are moving and changing. It is evolving every day. There are emails and chains and texts and ideas bouncing back and forth on both sides. There is a good exchange of ideas and thoughts about what the game might look like in the future. I am happy”.
