Tiger Woods told to retire 'before he embarrasses himself' after struggles at The Open

Tiger Woods has been urged to retire after struggling at The Open this week, despite the American's eagerness to play at Royal Troon next year.

The 48-year-old is a shadow of the player he once was and, on Friday, missed the cut after finishing 14-over after two rounds.

Injuries have taken their toll on Woods, who insists he's still passionate about golf despite clearly entering the twilight years of his career.

He hit back at Colin Montgomery before The Open commenced, with the Briton previously suggesting Woods would be wise to walk away from the sport.

Tiger Woods struggled at The Open and failed to make the cut on Friday

REUTERS

But, with each and every major that passes, it seems as though Woods has his work cut out as he looks to scale the heights of old.

Skip Bayless, who works as a pundit for FOX Sports, believes Woods should walk away to ensure he doesn't 'embarrass himself' and tarnish his legacy.

“Tiger Woods should quit trying to play in golf ’s major championships before he embarrasses himself even worse than he already has,” Bayless said.

It has been a rough year for Woods, with the American set to end 2024 a combined 44-over-pair across the four main events in golf.

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He only saw the weekend at one major and played a huge 50 per cent of his rounds in 77 or worse.

Woods was brutally honest after failing to make the cut on Friday, with the 48-year-old admitting things didn't go to plan.

“Well, it wasn't very good,” he said when asked about his second round.

“I made a double there at 2 right out of the hopper when I needed to go the other way.

"Just was fighting it pretty much all day. I never really hit it close enough to make birdies and consequently made a lot of bogeys.”

Woods also confirmed that he won't play until December, with the golf icon targeting the Hero World Challenge.

“No, I'm not going to play until then,” Woods said.

“I'm going to just keep getting physically better and keep working on it.

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Tiger Woods has been urged to retire after his issues at The Open

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"Hopefully just come back for our—what is it, our fifth major, the father/son, so looking forward to it.”

Injuries, as mentioned above, have reduced Woods into the player he is today.

There are many who feel his time in golf is limited and that he should walk away now to preserve his legacy.

Woods admits his physical issues are something that's currently holding him back.

Tiger Woods has vowed to keep playing despite his misery at The Open

REUTERS

But he's eager to keep playing in majors, despite struggling to compete with the best players on the planet.

“I've always loved playing major championships. I just wish I was more physically sharp coming into the majors,” Woods said.

“Obviously it tests you mentally, physically, emotionally, and I just wasn't as sharp as I needed to be.

"I was hoping that I would find it somehow, just never did.”

The American failed to make the cut on Friday