Pat Perez says Tiger Woods “knows he can’t beat anybody”

Two-time PGA Tour champion Pat Perez made some strong comments about Tiger Woods’ struggles on his radio show with writer Michael Collins.

Pat Perez is one of the many outspoken golfers on the PGA Tour. On his Sirius/XM Radio show “Out of Bounds”, Perez made some interesting comments about Tiger Woods as co-host Michael Collins listened in.

During the 2 minute, 30 second clip, the two-time winner on Tour talked about Woods’ struggles, and he didn’t hold back. Here is the clip, courtesy of Sirius/XM PGA Tour Radio.

Here are a couple of big quotes from Perez.

"“The bottom line is that he knows he can’t beat anybody” Perez said on the radio program. “If he doesn’t play Augusta, then it’s over. I can tell you that right now,” Perez said later on in the clip."

Woods has made changes to his equipment over the last couple of months. Switching to Bridgestone golf balls was the start, followed up by a club deal with Taylormade.

After a poor showing at the Famers Insurance Open, and suffering back spasms at the Dubai Desert Classic, Woods is out again. He withdrew from the Genesis Open as well as the Honda Classic.

This tweet from Woods on Feb. 10 is what sealed the deal of his withdrawals.

Perez may be right that Woods is hanging it up for the season. however, I don’t believe that he will call it quits if he doesn’t compete in the Masters.

I do believe that he will bounce in and out of golf like he has been doing the last couple of years. He still seems to be passionate about the sport, despite all of his business work off the course.

Despite his recent struggles, what is it about Tiger Woods that still makes him so compelling to fans? The answer may be simple: Passion.

I see him playing in the Masters because his last best major finish was being tied for 17th in 2015. Although he didn’t participate in last year’s tournament, the top-20 finish he had a couple of years ago may give him some hope.

His injury issues play a role however, and if he’s still hurting by April, then it will be three Masters withdrawals in the last four years. The troubling nature of the Tiger saga is that we always look for any glimmer of hope.

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This is a problem because, we expect so much from a player who’s battled injury, and hasn’t won a major in nine years. If you’re Tiger fan, the only thing you can hope for is that he’ll even be a “good” player again.

If I’m a Woods fan, I’d be content with him just competing, and doing so consistently. But, since he has changed golf, and sports forever, it’s hard for many to accept that.

When Martin Kaymer dominated the U.S. Open in 2014 at Pinehurst, did anyone really care as much? Jordan Spieth, tying Woods’ record at the Masters in 2015 was historic, but did people have the same feeling?

It’s become more of an attachment to someone more so than enjoying a dominate golfer. If another player conquers the field like the aforementioned Kaymer and Spieth, it’s not that big of a deal for some because of the passion for Woods.

Woods unbelievable run has tugged at the hearts of fans. And when you love someone so much, it’s tough to see others succeed.

I think that it’s simply hard to accept dominance from other players not named Tiger Woods. In a way, it’s kind of like team sports.

You love your team, so when they’re struggling, and you see other teams play amazingly, you might feel salty. In golf, since it’s an individual sport, fans usually find a player to latch on to. Woods has been that guy for years.

If he comes back again, he will not be the same player he was in the early to mid-2000’s, this we already know. It’s a broken record that continues to crumble even more into tiny bits.

However, if he comes back, and competes, then it adds more depth to an already full boat of talent. There’s nothing wrong with adding more names into the hat for tournaments, especially majors.

In the meantime, fans should take advantage of the rich talent that’s out there now. Otherwise, you’re missing out on some quality golf.

UPDATE: Perez responds to reaction of his original Tiger comments, courtesy of Sirius/XM PGA Tour Radio.

Next: Tiger Woods - The 30 Best Wins of His Career

What are your thoughts on Perez’ comments or about the Tiger Woods journey in general? As always, let us know in the comments section or you can chat with me on Twitter @ChiGolfRadio.