Tiger Woods has declared his intention to “fight until the end” despite a challenging performance at the 106th US PGA Championship, which has reignited discussions about the 15-time major champion’s potential retirement.
At 48 years old, Woods, who clinched victory at this major in 2000 at Valhalla, failed to make the cut, finishing seven-over and placing 133rd out of 156 participants. His performance was marred by two triple-bogey sevens during his second round. Falling six shots short of qualifying for the weekend, Woods’s recent struggles have led to widespread speculation on social media urging him to retire, particularly after finishing last among those who made the cut at the previous month’s Masters.
Among those echoing this sentiment were experts like Nick Bradley, former coach to notable golfers such as Justin Rose and Sir Nick Faldo, who agreed with Colin Montgomerie’s assessment after the Masters. Montgomerie had suggested that Woods should have retired after his memorable farewell at St Andrews. “He thinks he can do it, but it’s quite obvious now physically and mentally, that he can’t,” Montgomerie remarked. Bradley compared Woods’s situation to Muhammad Ali, who continued fighting beyond his prime, risking his health. While Woods’s condition is not life-threatening, his numerous injuries, including severe damage from a car accident three years ago, have significantly impacted his performance.
Woods remains determined to retire on his own terms, insisting that an exit is not imminent. Despite a record that shows he has only completed two final rounds in seven official tournaments since his accident, with a best finish of 47th, Woods continues to fight. “Just keep fighting. Keep the pedal on, keep grinding, keep working hard at posting the best score that I can possibly post. That’s all I can do,” he said.
There were some positives for Woods at Valhalla, including improved driving and fitness compared to Augusta. “Physically, yes, I am better than I was a month ago,” Woods noted, although he acknowledged the need for further improvement before the US Open at Pinehurst.
With only three weeks until the US Open, Woods faces a dilemma. He knows he needs more tournament play to sharpen his game, but his physical condition limits his participation. “I just need to play more,” Woods explained, recognizing the challenge of balancing practice and recovery.
In addition to his personal challenges, Woods is also involved in efforts to mediate disputes within the golf community, which he admits is exhausting. “There’s a lot of late nights and Zoom calls… and lots of emails to read,” he said, indicating the toll this role takes on him.
Looking ahead, Woods’s main goal for 2024 is to compete in all the year’s major tournaments, a feat he hasn’t achieved in five years. Successfully playing in each major could be a small yet significant victory for the legendary golfer currently ranked 807th in the world.
