[PHOTO: Andrew Redington]

The numbers don’t lie. And neither do the eye tests.

Since the car accident in February 2021 that badly mangled his right leg, Tiger Woods has not come close to looking like the 82-time winner who pulled off a stunning victory in the 2019 Masters. He’s competed only nine times officially since, making only three cuts. Wood is 48 and he looks it – which would be fine for a retired football or baseball player, but he’s still trying to compete against an ever-younger and more talented crop of stars.

As long as he’s relatively healthy, Woods is set to compete in this week’s Open Championship at Royal Troon, and it will be only his fifth start of this season, with the past two results being missed cuts at the PGA Championship and US Open.

For Woods’ fans, it can be almost as painful watching him struggle as the real discomfort he must feel in numerous parts of his body. Count one of his former competitors, Scotsman Collin Montgomerie, in that group.

Now 61, Monty saw Tiger first-hand at his peak in PGA Tour events, majors and the Ryder Cup. The 31-time DP World Tour winner watches Woods now and can’t fathom why one of the all-time greats is subjecting himself to mediocrity.

“I hope people remember Tiger as Tiger was, the passion and the charismatic aura around him,” Montgomerie said in a lengthy, career-reflecting interview with The Times of London. “There is none of that now. At Pinehurst [for the US Open], 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.”

It was after Woods shot 74-73 at Pinehurst in June that he was asked if he’d thought during the week about it possibly being his last US Open. The 15-time major winner had, after all, accepted a special exemption into the tournament by the USGA. “It may or may not be,” was Woods’ answer.

Montgomerie believes he has the definitive answer.

“Aren’t we there? I’d have thought we were past there. There is a time for all sportsmen to say goodbye, but it’s very difficult to tell Tiger it’s time to go,” he said. “Obviously, he still feels he can win. We are more realistic.”