'Colin's not a champion': punchy Woods swipes back at Montgomerie

Former world No 1 dismisses retirement talk after Scot suggests he should walk away

- Ewan Murray

Tiger Woods has delivered a withering takedown of Colin Montgomerie, after the Scot suggested the 15-times major champion should retire. Woods has arrived at Royal Troon for the 152nd Open Championship with speculation this could be his last.

The 48-year-old, who has been beset by injury troubles, finished 60th at the Masters before missing the cut in the USPGA Championship and US Open. Montgomerie, who never won a major, used a weekend interview to imply Woods should call time on his decorated career. Yesterday, Woods fired back.

"Well, as a past [Open] champion, I'm exempt until I'm 60," Woods said. "Colin's not. He's not a past champion, so he's not exempt. So he doesn't get the opportunity to make that decision. I do." Pressed on whether he feels he deserves the right to dictate his own playing future, Woods again referenced Montgomerie. "When I get to his age, I get to still make that decision, where he doesn't," he said.

"I'll play as long as I can play and I feel like I can still win the event." There was a firm "no" to whether or not his belief has wavered during turbulent times.

News of the Woods broadside reached the 61-year-old Montgomerie quickly. "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 on social media. "Wishing Tiger an enjoyable and successful week."