Tiger Woods opens up about plans for 2025 after missing the cut at Royal Troon

PGA Tour legend Tiger Woods failed to make the cut this week at Royal Troon for the 2024 Open, but despite some recent calls to stop competing in major tournaments, he intends to keep shooting. Woods posted five bogies and two double-bogies in his second round on Friday, notching a 77. It was two strokes better than his Thursday opening round, however, not nearly enough to make the cut.

The former Masters champion told reporters he “definitely” plans to play at next year’s Open, as well as other major events.

“Next year’s Open? Definitely,” Woods said. “I loved it [this week]. I’ve always loved playing major championships. I just wish I was more physically sharp. Majors test you emotionally, physically, mentally. I just wasn’t as sharp as I needed to be. I was hoping that I would find it somehow, I just never did. Consequently, my results and scores were pretty high.”

Among his 15 Major titles, Woods has three British Open victories. He won at St. Andrews twice, in 2002 and 2005, and at Royal Liverpool in 2006.

“I won two of my championships in Scotland, I have always enjoyed playing up here and I have enjoyed the different types of links and challenges that Scotland brings,” he said. “I’ve missed playing Troon, it’s been a long time. I remember playing here way back in 1997. I have had some great memories here, I just wish they had gone a little bit better, and I look forward to it.”

At the U.S. Open last month, Woods missed the cut after shooting a 73 in the second round.

Woods claps back at calls to retire

Former golfer Colin Montgomerie sparked backlash ahead of the Open when he told the Times of London last week that Woods should have retired at the 2022 Open at St. Andrews.

“That was the time,” Montgomerie said. “Stand on that (Swilcan) bridge, start waving, and everyone goes, ‘So, is that it?’ Yeah, it is. 

“It would have been a glorious way to go. The stands were full, the world’s TV cameras—from all continents — were on him, he’s walking up there on his own, tears were in his eyes obviously … you can’t beat that walk.”

Montgomerie, who grew up playing at Troon with his father who was the club secretary, warned the PGA star that he “won’t enjoy” this week’s tournament.

“I hope people remember Tiger as Tiger was, the passion and the charismatic aura around him,” Montgomerie said. “There is none of that now. At Pinehurst, he did not seem to enjoy a single shot and you think, ‘What the hell is he doing?’ He’s coming to Troon and he won’t enjoy it there either.”

“There is a time for all sportsmen to say goodbye but it’s very difficult to tell Tiger it’s time to go,’’ he added. “Obviously, he still feels he can win. We are more realistic.”

Woods responded directly to the comments from Montgomerie before his first round at Royal Troon. A reporter asked the golfer whether he believes he’s earned the right to play until he says otherwise, to which he responded, “I do.”

“Well, as a past (Open) champion, I’m exempt until I’m 60, Colin’s not,” Woods said. “He’s not a past champion, so he’s not exempt. So, he doesn’t get the opportunity to make that decision. I do. When I get to his age, I get to still make that decision, where he doesn’t.”