Tiger Woods risking his legacy and Rory McIlroy needs ‘herculean effort’ but Colin Montgomerie tipping Scot for Open glory

There is no better person to ask about Royal Troon than Colin Montgomerie.

The famous Scotsman and Ryder Cup legend grew up five doors down from the venue of The 152nd Open, while his father James was once club captain and later club secretary.

Montgomerie has played Royal Troon hundreds of timesCredit: Getty – ContributorAt previous Troon Opens, the only person who would rival ‘Monty’ for popularity and attention was Tiger Woods.

Now, in 2024, the pair find themselves intertwined in a storyline once again.

Montgomerie recently went viral for an interview suggesting Woods should retire amid the ongoing affects of his near-fatal car accident in 2021.

Those comments were put to the 15-time major winner on Tuesday and Woods said: “As a past champion, I’m exempt until I’m 60. Colin is not.”

READ MORE ON THE OPENIn response to the stories which inevitably followed, Montgomerie posted on social media: “If Golf Writers want my thoughts on Tiger please ask me direct, rather than taking a quote from an interview out of context. Wishing Tiger an enjoyable and successful week.”

Well, we did ask him directly.

talkSPORT.com sat down with Montgomerie back in June to preview The 152nd Open in a wide-ranging interview about Woods, Rory McIlroy, and of course, Bob MacIntyre.

This is what he had to say….

Woods has dismissed any talk of retirementCredit: GettyIs Tiger Woods ruining his legacy?Woods is adamant that he will play until he is no longer physically able – or he loses belief that he can win.

That is despite three years which have seen him complete all four days of just two majors and finish no higher than 47th.

Most read in Golf

Reflecting on the great man’s most recent missed cut at the US Open, Montgomerie suggested that Woods is putting his legacy at risk.

The Scot told talkSPORT.com: “He didn’t seem to enjoy himself at all at the US Open. He didn’t seem to enjoy any minute of that.

“He was under pressure early doors. He was under pressure to try and make the cut, which he did a hell of a job to try and do. But he didn’t enjoy it.

“Now, at his at his age… he’s 48 now. He’s 49 in December. With the money in the bank that he has, surely you’d think he should be doing something that he’s enjoying? And this wasn’t enjoyment.

“This was hard work. This was purgatory for him out there. Playing once a month, playing four times a year in the majors is proving not enough.

“He’s not competitive now. And he said that he wouldn’t play if he wasn’t feeling he was competitive. And he is. And I wish he wouldn’t, because I want to remember Tiger Woods the way he was, not the way he is now.

“There’s a time to go and very few top sportsmen take that take that opportunity to go at the right time. Let’s hope he doesn’t continue in this vein for a few years and then we’ll go, ‘Hang on, you guys coming through know Tiger Woods now? No, no, this this isn’t Tiger Woods’.

“This isn’t the same guy. He’s not the same guy. He’s not the same aura about the man. He’s not the same passion.

“He hasn’t got the same charisma about him that he had. And it’s a shame.

“There was an opportunity at St. Andrews, The Open in 2022, he had the opportunity to stand on that Swilcan Bridge and say goodbye to the majors. He could play in his own tournaments or whatever, but say goodbye to the majors. That was a golden opportunity to take it there.

“I want to remember Tiger as I remember Tiger, not the Tiger that I’m seeing now.”

Woods was all smiles during the practice rounds in ScotlandCredit: GettyCan Rory McIlroy bounce back? Of course, Woods is not the only story in town at Royal Troon.

World no.2 McIlroy will stage his latest attempt to end his ten-year major drought following heartbreak at the most recent major.

The Northern Irishman missed two putts inside four feet in his closing three holes at the US Open and lost to Bryson DeChambeau by one shot.

When asked about his chances at Royal Troon, Montgomerie said: “It’d be fantastic. I mean, it’d be Herculean effort if he can [win]. It would be superb if he could get into contention at The Open again after what’s happened the last time. That would be superb.

“And he’d certainly get the sympathetic vote, wouldn’t he? He’d certainly get the sympathetic vote from us all. He’ll be cheered on dramatically at The Open.

“I went to bed after the US Open and I was sad. I felt for him because I’ve been there. I know what it feels like to give away a major. And it’s a big deal. They don’t come around that often.

“The Sky Sports guys are always saying, ‘Oh, he’ll win majors and he’ll win numerous majors’. I say, well, hang on a minute. Rory’s just proved how bloody difficult it is to actually do this.

“And there’s always somebody that gets in the way, you know. But let’s hope that he can get back, and do well.”

McIlroy can put the horror of Pinehurst behind him this weekCredit: GettyIs Bob MacIntyre a genuine contender?Among the locals in Scotland, there is only one name on their lips: Bob MacIntyre.

MacIntyre arrives at Royal Troon a hero after becoming the first Scot in 25 years to win the Scottish Open, sparking wild celebrations.

And ‘Monty’ believes there is a genuine chance the 27-year-old can win The Open this week.

“I think the Ryder Cup helped him tremendously,” Montgomerie said.

“I spoke to him on the Tuesday. I was invited in by Luke Donald to the team room in Rome. And he was obviously, as you are, nervous, about going out in that cauldron and being under the microscope and everything you do is analysed and every shot you hit is analysed.

“He had a great partner in Justin Rose who kept him on the straight and narrow and used his talent and he came out on top. And also won his singles, which was great. So that gave him confidence to go on to this year. And of course, winning on the PGA Tour is a big deal. And winning the Canadian Open is a big deal.

“You know, Jack Nicklaus once said it should have been one of the majors along with the Australian Open. So fantastic for him, giving him great confidence coming into The Open at Troon.

“The crowd will be very much on his side. He’s got confidence and it’s gone from, ‘Can we have a Scot in the top 10? That’ll be great’. Now we’ve got someone who can actually potentially win. And I’m talking about The Open. He could potentially win The Open.

“I wasn’t saying that last year. I am now. And that’s great news for Scottish golf. We are the home of golf. You know, we’re not the home of football right now. We’re the home of golf. And we treasure that. We’re very proud of that. And we take that worldwide with us.

“To have someone who potentially could win The Open now, we haven’t had that for a long time in Scotland. We can cheer this on and let’s see what can happen.

“He has every chance of winning this thing. I think it’d be great for obviously be great for British and Scottish golf.”

Read More on talkSPORTFind out how The 152nd Open unfolds live on talkSPORT 2, as the action begins on Thursday.

Loch Lomond Whisky is the official spirit of The Open. Colin has collaborated with Loch Lomond Whisky to create The Open Special Edition.