After missing the cut at Royal Troon, Tiger Woods outlined his plans for the rest of the year and in the coming months, as the golf legend attempts to figure out his place in professional golf
Tiger Woods waved goodbye to Royal Troon and promised to return to Royal Portrush next year on his farewell tour. But the king of golf this century will not be back in the UK ever again as a competitive golfer. Those days have now gone.
The world No. 874 followed his opening round of 79 with a 77 yesterday to miss his third consecutive cut at the Open and in Majors this summer. Woods, now 48, then said he would not play again until his own Hero Challenge in the Bahamas in December followed by the PNC Championship in Florida with his son Charlie.
He is now a part-time golfer but a full-time business and brand. But he is also still the golfing legend everyone wants to see for maybe the final time.
Colin Montgomerie attracted the ire of Woods before the American’s 23rd Open by suggesting: “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.”
The great Scot was right and wrong. The former world No. 1, who pledged in his prime to never be a ceremonial golfer, is no longer about winning but keeping his name visible and shaping the future of golf.
The 15-time Major winner is taking an active role in negotiating a deal with the Saudi Public Investment Fund and will take the Ryder Cup captaincy in 2027.
Tiger Woods waved farewell to the fans, who outlined his plan to compete in future tournaments ( Image: Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images)
The new TGL league he will front along with Rory McIlroy will finally launch in January. His TGR business owns companies in golf course design, events production and his upmarket sports restaurant.
As TV ratings for golf drop as a result of the LIV split, Woods is still the biggest draw for the PGA Tour. And the crowds cheering him on to every tee and green yesterday showed his enduring popularity even if he is now a limping 48-year-old who looks like a tribute act to the sexy superstar of his pomp.
His playing partner Patrick Cantlay said: “I’m always pulling for him, as I think the rest of the world of golf is. Yeah, anytime being out with Tiger is great. He’s a great competitor and fun to be with.” Like Andy Murray, Woods also still enjoys playing his sport even at a level way below his prime.After finishing on 14-over par after making only three birdies in 36 holes, Woods insisted: “I loved it. I’ve always loved playing major championships. I just wish I was more physically sharp coming into the majors. Obviously it tests you mentally, physically, emotionally, and I just wasn’t as sharp as I needed to be. I was hoping that I would find it somehow, just never did. Consequently, my results and scores were pretty high.”
He has played only 11 rounds in five events on the PGA Tour this season as he rebuilds his game and body from his February 2021 car crash. Now he won’t tee up again for five months. “I’m not going to play until then (the Bahamas),” Woods said. “I’m going to just keep getting physically better and keep working on it. Hopefully just come back for our fifth major, the Father/Son, so looking forward to it.”
Woods will next be seen at Oakland Hills next week where his 15-year-old son Charlie has qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur, an event his father won from 1991-93. He cried walking up the last hole at St Andrews in 2022 and yesterday, despite his insistence he will return, he could have been saying goodbye to Scotland as he was given a standing ovation at the 18th.
Next year, the oldest Major returns to Northern Ireland and then it is Royal Birkdale in 2026. Asked if he will be back at Portrush in the year he turns 50, Woods said: Yeah, definitely.”
