Tiger Woods was in a jam at The Open (known overseas as the British Open) — even though he wasn’t on the course this year. Back in 2024: Tiger arrived to play in what was billed as his comeback tournament at Royal Troon, and as he made his way to the first tee the crowd began chanting “Prove Monty wrong!” They were provoking Tiger to reply to his compatriot, Colin Montgomerie, who’d said that afternoon Tiger should hang up his putter.
Tiger, 49, whose career had been stalled by injury setbacks — including an Achilles rupture in March — was clearly in recovery mode, but that didn’t stop fans from giving him a hero’s welcome. And after just four tournaments in 2024, he did it: He stepped up, and that chant elicited a tight chuckle from the legend himself.
Montgomerie, fulfilling the role of elder statesman, said to the press, “I hope people remember Tiger as Tiger was … There’s none of that now.” He wondered if Tiger still liked the game, remembered Pinehurst and asked out loud, “what the hell is he doing?”
Tiger, as usual not caring what anyone thinks, did have a response during his press conference: “As a past champion, I’m exempt until I’m 60. Colin is not. He’s not entitled to make that decision — he doesn’t have the standing. I do.” Boom—mic drop.
Unfortunately it wasn’t a fairy tale finish on the course. He shot a 79 and a 77 but failed to make the cut for the second straight time. It was his third consecutive major miss that season, and at the time, the 2024 Open seemed like his last epilogue on tour.
It was an uncomfortable, tension-packed moment: a public dare but also a legend that won’t die — and all the feels of a great golfer trying to figure out what he should do about time. For Tiger, the Open wasn’t so much about trophies as it was a reminder that even iconic figures can be pushed and prodded and hoisted in got-to-see-this 21st-century fashion.
