Time’s up for Tiger after slumping to his worst round at Masters

Tiger Woods shot his worst round at Augusta National. A ten-over-par 82. He’s an injury crock, 48 years old and no longer a contender. Time to call it a day.

Tiger Woods acknowledges the crowd walking off the 18th green during the costly third round of the 2024 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Picture: Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Hundred-foot loblolly pine trees towered over Tiger Woods. Three of them leaned forward is if taking an especially good look. Woods was down the right of the ninth fairway at Augusta National. On the pine straw.

His next swing was so awkward and uncomfortable … so far removed from the whiplash of his pomp … that my first thought was this: time to hang up the clubs.

To watch Woods trudge through his humiliating, soul-destroying, 10-over-par 82 in round three at the Masters was to witness Muhammad Ali being whooped by Trevor Berbick in “The Drama in Bahama”; to witness Michael Jordan in his last game, on his last legs, for the Washington Wizards; it was to witness Sir Donald Bradman being cleaned up for a duck by Eric Hollies at The Oval.

Nobody wants Woods to leave professional golf. And yet none at Augusta National enjoyed watching the most electrifying golfer in history shooting a score that might struggle to win a B-grade club championship.

Six bogeys aren’t worthy of a 15-time major champion. A couple of birdies were unable to put a spring in his step because there’s the problem. He’s endured so many injuries and surgeries that nothing can alter his hobbling gait.

On we walked. Searching for something we knew wasn’t there. The good old days. Woods simply cannot play and compete like he used to. Back-to-back bogeys to finish his front nine were dispiriting.

The audience peaked at about 10,000 but you could hear a pin drop. Four consecutive bogeys on the back nine were nothing short of sad. And then patrons ditched him to watch other groups. He’s too great to be hacking it around like this.

Roger Federer always vowed to leave tennis when he could no longer win majors. His body packed it in and he kissed us goodbye. That’s where Woods is at. An injury crock. Can no longer win.

He said last week he could win a sixth Masters but it was never going to happen. He finished round three a whopping 18 shots behind the pacesetting Scottie Scheffler.

You don’t need to be the world’s fittest athlete to win golf majors. A smidgen of endurance and versatility are required, though. Woods’ telltale swing at the ninth looked like someone trying to do yoga for the first time.

Tiger Woods lines up a putt on the 18th green during the third round – the former champion’s worst at the Masters. Picture: Andrew Redington/Getty Images/AFP

And he was sweating bullets when he finished. Even a semi-fit golfer doesn’t break into an actual sweat. Ten-over for one of the all-time greats was all the proof needed of a setting sun. His worst ever round at Augusta. The hundred-foot loblolly pines put their hands over their eyes. The worse Woods plays, the less he speaks.

Question: Tiger, on nine, it looked like that was a painful swing out of the right side there?

Woods: “Yeah.”

Question: Was there any moment that was worse than the others today? Anything that caused it to be worse for you for the rest of the day?

Woods: “All day.”

Question: Did it wear you out?

Woods: “Oh, yeah. It did.”

Question: How about being ready for tomorrow?

Woods: “My team will get me ready. Club has been awesome. It’ll be a long night and a long warm-up session but we’ll be ready.”

The 48-year-old needs around-the-clock physio to get on the first tee. He looks knackered and stiff by the time he reaches the turn. His back, knees and hips give him constant grief. “I hurt every day,” he said on Masters eve.

Nobody wants to talk about retirement. Nobody wants to suggest he should call it quits and yet the number on his scorecard said it all. Eighty-two. As inglorious as a duck at The Oval.