Tiger Woods. Is it time to hang up the bag?

[Irish-Assassin]

So I’ve watched Tiger most of my life as we are close to the same age I’m maybe 6 years older.
I’ve watched the comebacks but this one just seems to be too much for him to make.
It’s more of a sad sight watching him now trying to play, he’s well over par in the PGA, yes he made the cut in the masters but finished 16 over par and then withdrew from the Genesis. 
He isn’t playing enough golf to be consistent and I get it, his body cannot handle a full schedule and with that in mind I feel he has done enough for the game and it’s time to retire from playing the PGA and USGA events. 
Still play in the father son event and other team like fun stuff. 

For me also he is taking a spot away from someone that could really need it and needs to have the chance to make money for there career. 
 

[fixyurdivot]

I would say no with the caveat that he can play without excessive risk for more injury. He's been counted out more times than Kristian Laight but keeps coming back. Any event he plays in draws patrons, many of which are largely there to watch him.  

He's still not eligible for the Champions Tour and I hope he'll consider moving there when he is.  Much less demanding schedule and he can use a cart which will be huge.  Like so many on that tour, he can still pop in for key events and majors.

[GolfSpy_BNG]

This type of thread comes up everytime Tiger doesn’t play well.  
 

Tiger is the reason I picked up a club and love watching him play. Whether he plays well or not has zero bearing on my enjoyment of watching him.  It’s just awesome seeing him still hit some of the shots he does after everything he has been through.  
 

As for retiring and taking a spot from someone else, I’m in the camp that he has earned the right(lifetime exemption as well as what he has done for the game) to play whenever he wants.  

Yes he got an exemption to play this week but no where does it say that exemption was meant for or even would have been given to someone else.  He didn’t take a spot away from anyone. 

[Irish-Assassin]

Yes it was an exemption but if he said no it would have gone to someone if not another person exemption but next on the list. Alternates are always available for tournament due to delays and injuries that can happen. 
Otherwise the field would not be even and that creates its own headache as there was 39 foursomes that started. 
For myself growing up with players like Palmer, Faldo, Seve, Nicklaus, Player, Miller etc and then seeing Tiger burst on to the scene, yes he has made golf what is it with people taking up the game, purses and TV coverage. 
I just don’t like seeing him struggle. 

[GolfSpy_BNG]

I had a reply typed out but just gonna bow out. These threads bug me and I just need to stay away. I’m sure this will get lost in the shuffle like usual and then another will come up at the us open if he doesn’t perform like Tiger. Assuming he plays.  
 

Just remember with everything he has been through, he still made the cut at The Masters which is better than a lot of guys we aren’t talking about needing to retire. 

[Irish-Assassin]

Dude you’re very aggressive, chill out. 
This to me had nothing to do with making cuts or playing bad. this was mostly seeing him struggling with all the walking etc and his old injuries. 
Go have a beer or at least get someone to give you a hug. 
 

 

 

[GolfSpy_BNG]

15 minutes ago, Irish-Assassin said:

Dude you’re very aggressive, chill out. 
This to me had nothing to do with making cuts or playing bad. this was mostly seeing him struggling with all the walking etc and his old injuries. 
Go have a beer or at least get someone to give you a hug. 
 

 

 

I don’t drink and don’t need a hug thanks.  I’m not being aggressive or at least not trying to be.  You stated your opinion and I stated mine. 
 

Again this is why I hate these threads and need to stay away.  

[KingSlender]

Tiger can play as long as he wants.

 

That being said, even as big fan of his through the years, I don't need to see him on TV other than the occasional shot or the ceremonial walk up 18.  if he's not in contention.   Coverage of ever shot of Tiger when he was +8 yesterday and hardly showing any shots of Brooks and Bryson who were -7 was beyond ridiculous. 

[jolter1]

In watching the telecast, I heard the roars for when he just hit a green in regulation, nevermind how far away from the hole the ball landed. That has got to weigh on his mind. Up until a few years ago, his body was able to sustain some form of a practice and playing schedule. Only participating in the four majors this year with the hope of playing more starting next year may just be a pipe dream for someone who will turn 49 at the end of this year with a surgically repaired body of a geriatric. It is well to celebrate his career but at the same time be realistic as to what he has become.

[ChitownM2]

I didn't think you're going to find too many professional athletes that are going to retire before they are essentially forced to.  The mindset it takes to reach that level means they are always going to have the self confidence to think they can go out and win any given week. 

Tiger has earned whatever exemptions come his way and is still one of the most impactful players in the sport.  Half the tour is compromised of guys who will never win a tournament so it doesn't really matter if sometime thinks he can't win because that's no different than 3 or 4 dozen other guys you've never heard of and they get to play too.  I'm also not concerned about him taking a spot away from sometime else, he isn't playing in that many tournaments and if the "next tiger" is it there in the alternate list then he will get his shot eventually.  

[Headhammer]

Probably, but he won't/can't. Remember Tiger stated on numerous occasions that he will only play in a tournament if he thinks he can win and when he no longer feels that way he will hang it up! I even recall him saying he could never see himself playing on the champions tour. But golf is in a difficult place right now and I believe he thinks, and maybe the PGA feels, he has to be the catalyst to get the game back on track.

[Irish-Assassin]

I would like nothing more than to see Tiger win another major, I just can’t see it. Senior tour isn’t something I can see him doing to be honest especially with Charlie making waves in the golf world. 
Yes he deserves the respect of everyone in golf, but seeing him bending with pain and grimacing on shots just makes it hard to watch. 
I would love to hear / see him on the golf channel talking golf and being an analyst like Miller. With his knowledge and knowing all the players it would be awesome listening. 

[silver & black]

23 hours ago, Irish-Assassin said:

Go have a beer or at least get someone to give you a hug. 

Ummm.... you too?

[silver & black]

As much as I always want to see Tiger play well, I think his injuries/life has taken a toll on his game. He's still Tiger.... and always will be. Two more years and he can play the Senior Tour... if he chooses.

 

 

[Irish-Assassin]

Quite in the cheap seats.

[Donn lost in San Diego]

I suspect he will enter fewer events, and he is probably not depriving anyone.  I wonder what percent of  "alternates" who get in to a TOUR event make the cut and pay a few more weeks of hotels and travel.

I think he will decide to save the strain and pain next few years, and aim to be able to play 10 or more on Champion.

His popular appeal and advertiser value will be ginormous when he turns 50.  I will patronize whichever Viagra he eventually endorses.  I did buy a set of Nike irons, but that was in 2017 after Nike left and I got in on the 50% sell-off.  I was thrilled to find a set of Vapor Fly on Recoil shafts 6 months after the announcement.

[AverageSizedDog]

I think its time for people and media to stop giving him so much attention. He has said he will play once maybe twice a month so it is a treat when he does play but we don't need to care so much when he does play. He can get into any tournament he wants and its going to be the same result each time. I think if we gave Tiger the same amount of coverage as John Daly this debate could be less hostile. 

[Julius]

In my view, what he has done for the game he has the right to continue to try to be in the mix.  The game is better with him in it in my own opinion. Of course he is not the same level he was in his prime but no one is, it does pain me to see him struggle to walk, at the same time, he gives a huge boost to those who struggle with injuries and physical limitations to see him continuing to be a gamer.  And occasionally he will even have a flash of that old magic. I would be fine to see him stay and try to be competitive, but would of course completely understand if he decided to go away gracefully as well. 

[Willie T]

He basically has….his body won’t let him play more than a few events a year - so in effect he’s doing exhibition style golf, here to draw the crowds and hopefully contend.  I love watching him play, and I really like when he does make the cut. I would love to see him win one more, to have it be where he can say “I beat the odds one last time despite the injuries.”  His legacy is already in place….let him play until he says “l’m done.”  Was hoping that one day he would do the Champions Tour, but if he doesn’t that’s okay too….

[Marty2Shanks]

Tiger can’t compete on setups with significant rough.  The misses are too penal.  Unfortunately that means PGA Championship and US Open are out.  The Masters is still an ok setup for him to compete (not necessarily win), but the walk catches up.  I see The Open (British) on a relatively flat course being his only major option moving forward.  Now, if he would take a cart…

[Haile]

I really don't feel like it's time for him to hang it up permanently yet. Is he going to win anything again? Well those chances are pretty low(but never zero). Tiger is staying around because he loves golf and loves competing. Two of the best reasons to play at the pro level. He still does great things for the game of golf today. He draws fans in, he's clearly good for moral around other players and it's still something special to watch. He's not hurting anything by being in the field. The argument that he's just taking up space for someone else is crazy to me. You could argue the same thing for every guy that didn't make the cut. Watching Tiger golf kind of reminds me of a few years ago when I watched Willie Nelson sing on a stage. Long gone is prime performance, but there's still something special there. If fans get to watch him golf half a dozen times a year that's great. We know he's probably not going to win. At this point, we're happy when he's still playing during the weekend. The only thing that bothers me a little is when the guy is clearly hurting. I know the feeling and it sucks. Of course, when I hurt like that, I just don't play golf because I have an actual job I still have to do to pay bills. But, either way, I feel like the argument for retirement boils down to the fact that his chances of winning again are so low. That and he picks and chooses a few tournaments a year. And, to me, that's just not a fair argument to have. The guy is still playing better golf than I ever will. 

[RetiredBoomer]

Golf has always been my recreation, and except when I was a very young kid, I wasn't too interested in professional golf as sports entertainment.  

Even when I was a kid, it was the taped televised matches that entertained me more than the tournaments.

There were TWO exceptions, however.

In the 1970s, our area had two native daughters, Jane Blalock and Pat Bradley, doing very well on the LPGA Tour.  I went out to see them whenever they played nearby and sometimes in Florida as well.

The other exception was when Tiger and Annika were tearing things up.  They were just too good to miss.  It was like how I'm not a football fan, but as a New Englander, I did have to watch twenty years of Tom Brady!

 

[Berg Ryman]

Simply put, no.

More eloquently put, Tiger Woods has earned the right to determine when he gets to call time on his career. Yeah, it's sometimes hard watching the guy who we watched revolutionize the game play the way he has recently, but he gets to to make that call. If he feels like he can compete on tour and wants to keep playing, he should. He means too much to the sport and even if he never comes 'Tiger Woods' again for a full tournament, there's always the moments, the shot to shot chance of him finding that old genius and showing us why we love golf in the first place, and isn't that what golf is all about to begin with?

Also, lest we forget some of the legends of this game held on forever and were adored by so many. Arnold Palmer retired in 2006 from competitive golf, he was 77. Jack retired from Majors at 65, he also played a limited schedule on the Champions Tour once he was eligible. To say Tiger at 48, 49 at end of calendar year needs to hang it up is simply ridiculous at this point, and that's coming from someone who wasn't a Tiger fan as much as others in the 2000's, my formative golf time.

[RetiredBoomer]

At this point, is it a matter of whether or not Tiger can still win,

or is it a matter of whether or not Tiger still pushes ticket sales and TV ratings?

[James S]

Funny how we have this expectation of Tiger winning every time he plays. He was not last and saying he should hang it up should mean everyone who did worse than him should quit too?  There are a lot of player who have never won but keep playing, so should they all hang it up?  Until he feels he cannot compete expect to see him and enjoy it. 

[Bossfan]

It is up to him to decide not us. 

[Philpug]

I am a huge Tiger fan but it also shows the state of the game when he is still the one creating the ratings. Without getting into the defectors but it has watered down the game when the best of the best of best are not competing against each other it greatly hurts the sport. I like Scottie, he is a good player but he does not move the needle. Outside of golf, no one knew Scottie before his arrest. Even before that dreadful Thanksgiving everyone one knew Tiger. 

As far as the exemptions, over the years Tiger created more open spots in tournaments than he ever took up. Every player on the tour now owe a part of their salary to him for the money he brought to the game. 

As far as Tiger still playing it reminds me of the Steve Carltons and Tom Seavers, the greats who played for half a dozen teams at the end. Yes it is painful to watch Tiger struggle to make shots that he used to make in his sleep but who are we to say or even question him about moving on. I for one WILL turn in the TV when he is playing whether in contention or not. IF Charlie can live up to the hype, and I think he can, he could the the heir apparent Tiger passes the baton to. 

Golf needs Tiger ... more than Tiger needs golf right now. 

[GySgtFTL]

Yes.

[Swood1994]

I think people asked this question back in 2019 too.. frankly tiger pulls viewership so it’s good for the game. He said it himself, he only continues to play in certain tournaments because he feels like he can still win. Whether or not that true we will never know but you have to take it as his truth. I will say if that day ever comes when he gets the 83rd win or the 16th major I’m pretty sure the internet will break. Golf is bigger than ever and even people new to golf know how important he is to the game. 

So short answer to the threads original question.. No it’s not time for him to retire. 

[Byrnzee]

Many people have said it, but Tiger doesn't just move the needle in professional golf... he is the needle. As long as he feels like he can compete in these tournaments, who are we to say he shouldn't? He's the greatest of all time in my eyes and has earned the right to golf as little or as much as he wants and his body allows.

There are still glimpses of greatness every time he plays, even if the final scores don't show it. He will always be someone I root for and I would not be shocked to see him compete or even win a tournament again under the right conditions.

I do think he'll be very successful on the Champions Tour when he becomes eligible. Having the assistance of a cart will be a game changer for him. He just doesn't have the stamina anymore to compete and walk in these tough tournaments.