Xander Schauffele Backs Tiger: ‘Selfishly, I Want To See Him Play as Long as Possible’

Xander Schauffele does not want Tiger Woods to retire, a point that him and Colin Montgomerie do not see eye-to-eye on.

Last week, Montgomerie made scathing remarks about Woods and his decision to continue playing in Majors despite not being in the best physical shape due to injuries. Montgomerie, a zero-time Major winner, said Woods may still feel like he can win, but “we are more realistic”:

“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. Obviously, he still feels he can win. We are more realistic…I hope people remember Tiger as Tiger was, the passion and the charismatic aura around him. 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 (for The Open) and he won’t enjoy it there either.”

Woods shot back at Montgomerie’s comments by stating the Scotsman does not have the right to make decisions on whether he should play in Majors because “he’s not a past champion”:

“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.’’

I think it’s the “I do” at the end that really brings it home. Exquisite stuff. pic.twitter.com/fmuxQNW3T8

— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterCBS) July 16, 2024

Woods is still, without a doubt, a needle-mover at the Majors, and many tune in just to see him play, even if the quality of golf isn’t what it once was.

But other players are now speaking out in support of Woods, one of which is his playing partner for the first two days of The Open, Xander Schauffele:

“He is still wearing that red on Sunday. I just heard some of those comments that were said by Colin and whether it’s his honest opinion or not, the game of golf needs him desperately. Selfishly, I want him to play as long as possible…It just helps all the guys out here, just with the amount of eyeballs someone like Tiger Woods brings to golf… I think he’s pretty honest with his own assessment; he’ll hang up when he feels he’s ready, and he’s still got a lot of bite and a lot of fight in him.”

Woods still manages to make cuts, especially at Augusta, but even if he were to stop making cuts altogether, it would be doubtful that people would want him to stop showing up when he is undoubtedly a fan-favorite.

Cover Image via Golf Digest