Tiger taking time out has become the major issue
But Monty won’t write him off yet
RYDeR Cup legend Colin Montgomerie doesn’t believe that the unique talent of tiger woods has been lost forever. But he is absolutely certain that the fallen former world No 1 needs to play a lot more competitive golf — or f orget about challenging for more majors.
Monty, who will tee up alongside woods in the us Open at Chambers Bay on thursday week, was dismayed to see the man with 14 majors to his name scramble to an ugly opening 73 — a decent final score considering he took 40 strokes to reach the turn — in the Memorial tournament on thursday night.
Hitting his first ball in anger after a month off, tiger spent much of his day smashing drives up to 100 yards off line, later declaring himself ‘mentally beat up’ by the experience.
Montgomerie, who will pull double shifts at Chambers Bay as he combines playing with his role as an analyst for sky, says there is still time for woods to resume his pursuit of Jack Nicklaus’ 18-major haul.
But he says working on the range during lengthy breaks between tournaments won’t get him there, admitting: ‘I think he does look rusty. I think that’s quite true.
‘I think the more you play, you i ron out other difficulties. It’s one thing playing on a range and that’s fine — but competition is everything. You can see how good the back nine was compared to the front on thursday. the front was f our over and that isn’t up to standard. But of course the back nine at three under is.
‘so it proves that there is still something there. But that would still leave him pushing to make the cut, which is not what we want to see from him. so he has to play more, definitely. Once every three or four weeks isn’t enough.’
some of the game’s true greats have fallen right off the competitive radar in l ater years, reminding everyone of just how fickle golf can be. Yet Monty has no fears that woods is about to disappear.
‘I don’t think he’s lost his game,’ said the scot, who qualifies for Chambers Bay by dint of his us seniors Open victory. ‘No, I don’t think there is any fear of that right now because of the way he played the back nine on thursday.
‘three birdies and no bogeys on a back nine is very good. But you can’t score four over in any conditions, never mind perfect ones, nowadays, the competition is too good.
‘Yes, he’s struggling because of the fact that he’s not playing enough and. I believe he’s got to play a little bit more.
‘He won’t be playing next week, he’s got a week off — and then he’s got Chambers Bay. I do hope he makes the cut, that is actually very important for him, to make the cut. that will really help him.
‘ that’s another two hours of competition and that’s what he needs, more so than winning. He needs four rounds of competition leading into the us Open.’
Meanwhile, scotland’s Russell Knox lost touch with the top of the leaderboard after following up his impressive opening-round 66 by carding a 74 yesterday, leaving him four under and eight shots adrift of sweden’s David Lingmerth in top spot. england’s Andy sullivan is two back after shooting a sizzling 64.