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Just 12 hours after finishing runner-up at the Scottish Open to relative PGA Tour newcomer Chris Gotterup, Rory McIlroy took to the first tee at Royal Portrush for his first practice round ahead of the Open Championship.

The tournament takes place in his native Northern Ireland at a course where 16-year-old McIlroy set the course record.

“The fact that I’m here at Portrush with the green jacket, having completed that lifelong dream, I want to do my best this week to enjoy everything that comes my way and enjoy the reaction of the fans and enjoy being in front of them and playing in front of them,” the star golfer said. “But at the same time, I want to win this golf tournament, and I feel like I’m very capable of doing that.”

READ: Rory McIlroy’s wife Erica Stoll’s hatred that made couple’s mind up on…

Ahead of the year’s final major tournament, McIlroy took a well-deserved rest as he, wife Erica and daughter Poppy enjoyed some time on their new home.

“We came back a few weeks ago and moved into our new home in Wentworth and have been trying to settle in. It’s amazing what two weeks of a bit of detachment can do for you,” he revealed ahead of the Scottish Open. “Sitting there being with your own thoughts for a while. Yeah, it’s been nice to have this time to reflect and also to rekindle my excitement and enthusiasm for the rest of the year. Obviously we have this week in Scotland and then a massive week next week in Portrush.”

After capping off the career grand slam with his win at the Masters in April, he admitted his mindset changed.

“Yeah, you know, it’s my first realistic chance to win after the Masters, and I’ve had a great season. I won at Pebble. I won [the Players Championship]. I said this, when you do something that you’ve been dreaming your whole life to do, it was a huge moment in my life, my career,” he revealed before the final round of the Scottish Open. “The I think I just needed that little bit of time. And to be back here for last couple weeks, and feel like I could actually digest all of it, I feel like I came to this tournament with renewed enthusiasm and excitement for the rest of the year.”

The last time the Open Championship was played at Royal Portrush, McIlroy failed to make the cut after firing an 8-over, 79 in the first round despite an impressive 6-under, 65 in the second round as he missed the weekend by one shot.

Irishman Shane Lowry won the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush by six shots over Tommy Fleetwood.

BOXING

Jake Paul accepts ludicrous terms to fight Anthony Joshua during Turki Alalshikh meeting

Jake Paul has proven he is serious about facing Anthony Joshua by accepting an incredibly low purse split for the crossover clash.

‘The Problem Child’ met with Saudi powerbroker Turki Alalshikh last week to discuss a possible fight with AJ.

Paul has set his sights on the former unified heavyweight champion after overcoming Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in his last outing.

READ: Jake Paul ‘doesn’t know the rules’ – Applies for ineligible title shot

The YouTuber-turned-boxer vowed to knock out Joshua during a lengthy rant on his podcast where he claimed the Watford powerhouse ‘doesn’t have a chin’.

This led to a phone call with the Olympic gold medallist, where both men verbally agreed to face each other in 2026.

Boxing mogul Alalshikh was then contacted to get involved with the fight.

And during a recent appearance on ‘Tha Boxing Voice’, he revealed that Paul had accepted his proposal for a 99-1 purse split in Joshua’s favour.

“I’m not against what Jake Paul’s doing in boxing, it’s good for boxing to have a young generation,” said Alalshikh.

“I’m against some kinds of fights he does. I’m now thinking him against Joshua. Joshua, if he destroys (Paul), it will be good for me.

“The headache of Jake Paul goes from my mind.

“If Jake Paul wins, I will know that Joshua is finished, and Jake Paul deserves his ranking and deserves to have a future in boxing.

“I don’t want 50-50. In this situation, I want 99-1.

Jake Paul has accepted. Now, next week I will talk with Joshua about it.”

If Paul signs for these terms, then Joshua will receive a 99 per cent lion’s share of the total prize pot.

Both men are commercial juggernauts in the boxing sphere, and the expectation is that they would demand a similar cut.

Paul pocketed $40million to fight Mike Tyson last November, but under Alalshikh’s terms, he wouldn’t come anywhere near that sum.

On the flip side, Joshua would bank one of the biggest purses in boxing history.

There will undoubtedly be serious money on the line for the fight, and with a 99 per cent share, Joshua could make eight figures.

CELEB NEWS

Rory McIlroy’s wife Erica Stoll’s hatred that made couple’s mind up on….

Rory McIlroy will be heading into the Open Championship this week hoping to put right his 2019 disaster at Royal Portush.

It’s the first time he’s returning to the iconic Northern Ireland course since collapsing under the home-love pressure, and ultimately failed to make the cut.

On the very first hole six years ago, he slumped to a dreaded quadruple-bogey, and was eventually left holding back tears after his second round exit. He said earlier this week: “The walk to the first tee and then that ovation, I was a little surprised and a little taken aback, like ‘Geez, these people really want me to win’.

READ: No Rory McIlroy: Tiger Woods Named the 2 Best Players He Faced in Golf History

“I think that brought its own sort of pressure and more internally from myself, not really wanting to let people down. It’s just something I didn’t mentally prepare for that day or that week.”

McIlroy will be leaning on his wife Erica Stoll for her continued support heading into The Open this week, in a bid to overcome his demons. The family recently moved to a new leafy Surrey estate, and have reportedly spent about £9million renovating their new home.

Erica reportedly favours milder temperatures over the sweltering heat of their former US base. The New Yorker and her Northern Irish husband were previously residing in Jupiter, Florida with their daughter Poppy, but are now ready to make the move across the pond.

Earlier in 2024, McIlroy initiated divorce proceedings, though the couple later reconciled within the same year. “Straight after Augusta we travelled over to see the house as it was going through the finishing touches,” McIlroy revealed to The Telegraph. “It was fun to see and we could have stayed in it, but we wanted to get over to [McIlroy’s hometown] Holywood.”

Fellow professional golfer Martin Kaymer recounted an amusing exchange about Stoll’s feelings towards the climate during his Netflix Full Swing appearance. “I saw her [Stoll] at a Starbucks once, and she said, ‘I really don’t like the sun.’ I said, ‘Your state’s called the Sunshine State, right?'” he recalled.

Nevertheless, it was a different Netflix programme that became the focal point during a private moment preceding McIlroy’s Masters triumph. The 36-year-old secured a career Grand Slam at Augusta, defeating Justin Rose in a play-off to claim the coveted green jacket.

Rory McIlroy, the golfing sensation, finally ended his major drought with a stunning Masters victory, and he’s revealed an unusual preparation method. Chatting with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, McIlroy shared that he unwound before his big win by indulging in the period drama ‘Bridgerton’ alongside his wife.

“The week of the Masters, for me, I’m just trying to distract myself with doing anything,” the champion golfer confessed. “I’m trying not to watch coverage of the tournament, I’m trying not to watch anything about the golf.”

McIlroy explained his strategy to avoid sports news altogether, opting instead for books, shows, or films. “You try to just not look at the sports news. So, like, read a book, watch a show, watch a movie. So, I was watching ‘Bridgerton’ with my wife, which was her decision, but I actually got into it… It was good.”

In other news, it seems McIlroy’s move to Surrey had been on the cards for some time. J. Spaun, who McIlroy outplayed at the Players Championship, accidentally revealed Rory’s UK plans during a chat on the Fore Play podcast.

“I know he’s Northern Irish, but I asked him if he ever hangs out in London,” Spaun recounted. “Because my wife has got a really good friend that lives out there and loves going there. He said, ‘Oh yeah, I’m building a house out there.'”.

BOXING

Canelo Wants To Move Away From Super Middleweight Division To Face One Man After Terence Crawford

Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez is gearing up for a monumental showdown with fellow pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford.

The 34-year-old from Guadalajara, Mexico is set to make the first defence of his undisputed super-middleweight championship against ‘Bud’ Crawford on Saturday September 13 at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Canelo began his second reign as undisputed champion at 168lbs on May 3 after he defeated former IBF super-middleweight champion William Scull in Riyadh. The Mexican great faced-off with Crawford for the first time moments after he was declared the winner against Scull.

JUST IN: [VIDEO] Manny Pacquiao will rematch Floyd Mayweather if one condition is met

As he prepares for what could be one of the biggest fights of his career, Canelo has set his sights on facing one man in particular after his showdown with ‘Bud’ in two months.

When asked by The Ring Magazine who there is left for him to face, Canelo admitted that he wants a rematch against Dmitry Bivol, after the Russian superstar handed him just the second defeat of his career several years ago.

“I hope I have the opportunity to have the rematch with Bivol, that’s the only fight at 175 I would really take.

I want to tell myself ‘Hey, you learned something from that fight’, what things you don’t need to do again. I have that thing in myself which says ‘Hey, you need to show that you’re a better fighter than him’.”

Bivol successfully defended his WBA world light-heavyweight title against Canelo in May 2022, defeating the Mexican icon via unanimous decision at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The Russian would go on to become the undisputed champion at 175lbs earlier this year as he outpointed rival Artur Beterbiev in their entertaining rematch on February 22. A trilogy bout between the duo is expected to take place during the early stages of 2026.

BOXING

[VIDEO] Manny Pacquiao will rematch Floyd Mayweather if one condition is met

Manny Pacquiao will only consider a rematch with Floyd Mayweather if it is a sanctioned professional fight.

The Filipino icon returns to the paid ranks on Saturday night in a WBC welterweight title clash against Mario Barrios in Las Vegas.

If Pacquiao, now aged 46, can overcome the odds to become the second-oldest world champion in boxing history, then his first defence could come against his old foe ‘Money’ Mayweather.

READ: ‘It’s my rules’ – Oleksandr Usyk accuses Daniel Dubois of playing mind games over cheating allegations

A text message from Team Mayweather to esteemed boxing journalist Lance Pugmire reveals that both parties have already touched base over a money-spinning sequel.

“Conversations are already happening,” read the text. “If Manny wins, this rematch could be worth billions.”

The fierce rivals were in talks to meet in an exhibition bout last year, but it never came to fruition.

Part of the reason they were unable to get past the negotiation table was that Pacquiao only wanted to face Mayweather in a ‘real fight’.

“I don’t know if it will happen by the end of the year, but he will see,” Pacquiao told the Ariel Helwani Show when quizzed on a second fight with Mayweather.

“One at a time. Of course [I would be interested in fighting Mayweather].

“He has been ducking me. I don’t want an exhibition, I want a real fight.

“It’s been a long time that I have wanted to give the fans a good fight between me and him.

“But he has been ducking and avoiding me. Let’s focus on this Saturday, I have business to take care of.”

Manny Pacquiao shares his interest level in a rematch with Floyd Mayweather:

"He's been ducking me. I don't want an exhibition. I want a real fight.

It's been a long time that I want to give the fans a good fight between me and him, but, you know, he's been avoiding me." pic.twitter.com/RWuamR0Bd8

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) July 16, 2025

Mayweather famously defeated Pacquiao via unanimous decision in 2015 to unify the WBC, WBA and WBO welterweight titles.

The much-anticipated showdown shattered multiple all-time records, including pay-per-view buys, pay-per-view revenue and live gate.

Mayweather vs Pacquiao eclipsed 4.6million pay-per-view buys and grossed over $600million to become the richest fight in boxing history.

It seems unlikely a second fight would generate the same commercial success, given the ever-changing market and both men’s advanced age.

But there appears to be interest from both sides.

It remains to be seen whether Mayweather would be willing to risk his perfect 50-0 record in a pro bout, although the first ballot Hall of Famer may be forced to if he wants to run it back with Pacquiao.

CELEB NEWS

Lindsey Vonn towers over Simone Biles in all-black fits Olympic champs rendezvous

It was a meet-up of Olympic champions at Lindsey Vonn’s big celebration this week.

On Tuesday, July 15, the decorated ski racer celebrated 20 years as a Red Bull athlete at a special party — with several other winners in attendance.

Fellow Olympian Simone Biles was one of the many people who showed out to celebrate Von, and the two linked up for a special photo opp. Vonn is wearing a lowcut black top and matching leather shirt, completing the look with a gold chain. Meanwhile, the Olympic gymnast is wearing a leather dress, and a diamond necklace reading “Owens” — a special dedication to her husband, Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens.

READ: Simone Biles wows in plunging dress amid surgery rumors as she honors Serena Williams

In the photo, their height difference is quite noticeable, as Vonn is 5-foot-10, and Biles is 4-foot-8. Still, there was no method to measure the love Vonn surely felt that night.

Also in attendance were former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart, skateboarder Ryan Sheckler, and more, as evidenced by a carousel shared to Vonn’s Instagram page.

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A post shared by L I N D S E Y • V O N N (@lindseyvonn)

“When you have good people supporting you, the whole journey is so much better!!,” she wrote in the post’s caption. “Thank you for always believing in me… who would have thought I’d be here 20 years later.”

CELEB NEWS

Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian reveal big ‘secret’ they’ve been keeping

Serena Williams, 43, and her husband Alexis Ohanian, 42, revealed a big secret this week. The couple are GOATs in their respective industries. Serena won 23 Grand Slam titles during her career, and Alexis is known as the “GOAT of investing.”

On Monday, July 14, Alexis announced to X (formerly Twitter) that he will be joining season 17 of Shark Tank as a guest investor. He wrote to his 579,000 followers: “Looks like the secret is out. Can’t wait for y’all to watch.”

The news coincides with other changes in the Shark Tank universe. The show is moving from its usual Friday slot to Wednesdays at 10/9c. Along with Alexis, other guest investors are Chip and Joanna Gaines, Michael Strahan, and the creator of Poppi, Allison Elssworth.

READ: Simone Biles wows in plunging dress amid surgery rumors as she honors Serena Williams

Fans of Shark Tank quickly celebrated Alexis’ announcement. One wrote, “Oh wow, congrats boss.” Another shared: “This is awesome! Those entrepreneurs are so lucky to have you there.” Serena is a proud wife to the co-founder of Reddit. In a video posted online, the tennis legend said: “He started a whole movement in women’s sports by getting billions invested.”

Last year, Alexis launched Athlos, a women’s only track and field event, where winners for each event earn $60,000. He is a co-owner of Chelsea Women’s football club and the Los Angeles based National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) team, Angel City.

“When I first told Serena I was gonna buy or start a women’s soccer team here in the States, she actually tried to talk me out of it,” Alexis told CNN Sports. “I think she had been so exposed to the infrastructure around women’s sports. Because of her lived experience, she actually was trying to talk me out of it because she had to kick down a lot of doors.”

He continued: “When experts in a space try to talk me out of it, that’s actually when I tend to lean in more because it tells me that sort of dissent or that pushback is usually where there’s a tremendous opportunity for innovation and progress.”

Alexis invests in women’s sports because his wife is a former athlete, but also for the future of his two daughters, Olympia, 7, and Adira, 1.

“Being blessed to have two Black daughters in particular helps me reframe even some of the most subtle things,” he wrote to X in April. “So I take Olympia golfing every Sunday. I am her daddy caddy. I don’t know how to play golf, I never played golf. And so we’ll go out there, and I am terrible, but we have a good instructor who’s also a woman.”

And because her dad is an investor, Olympia receives allowance through a legitimate system.

“Serena was her lawyer in the negotiation. I drew up a real contract. We negotiated it. Her mom was her counsel, which was really frustrating,” Alexis told on The Jemele Hill podcast. He went on to explain Olympia gets $7 a week for doing chores like feeding the dog, making her bed, and putting clothes in the hamper.

“I figured out how to get her to value cash, which was helpful,” he continued. “[Serena and I are] both trying to navigate how to create the circumstances for her to be a functional adult, while also having resources that we couldn’t have imagined.”

These investor and negotiation skills are sure to come in handy on Season 17 of Shark Tank. The season will air this fall on ABC.

BOXING

‘It’s my rules’ – Oleksandr Usyk accuses Daniel Dubois of playing mind games over cheating allegations

Oleksandr Usyk suggested Daniel Dubois has deliberately accused him of cheating to ramp up the pre-fight tensions.

Usyk and Dubois will meet for the second time this weekend with the undisputed heavyweight titles on the line at Wembley Stadium.

The pair have a big history having first met in 2023, a fight that ended in huge controversy after Usyk was floored by a low blow which was ruled as illegal.

JUST IN: ‘Could be worth billions’ – Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao back in stunning new talks as comeback fight looms

A fierce debate rumbles on as to whether it broke boxing’s strict rules, but Dubois and his team including trainer Don Charles accused Usyk of cheating.

Suggestions from the Briton’s team is that Usyk deliberately took the time to recover from the shot to force the referee to dismiss a potential knockdown count.

It has caused a new rift between Usyk and Dubois, with the fighters themselves clashing during their appearance at the talkSPORT towers in April.

In a fresh interview with talkSPORT, the Ukrainian believes it is simply a ploy to try to get into his head before the match-up.

“No [they didn’t get under my skin],” Usyk clarified.

“It doesn’t matter I’m not a cheater. I think it is just pre-fight mind games from his team.

“But I love to play the mind games, I also like playing football, counter-strike and pre-fight games.

“But it is my rules, I’m the king of the division. I think it’s possible to get under my skin, but only me knows how.”

Charles let loose on Usyk in a fiery rant at the launch press conference.

But the Ukrainian was largely unmoved albeit the claim drew a response from members of his team.

The low blow has been a huge point of contention for the boxing fraternity, with Dubois and his camp still feeling aggrieved by the verdict.

An appeal was rejected at the time, but now Dubois gets his shot at redemption and a place in the history books.

The tensions have been turned up to a new level since the sequel was confirmed.

Dubois pushed Usyk as things threatened to spiral out of control.

At the latest media day, the Briton screamed in his rival’s face once again but he didn’t move a muscle.

Usyk goes in with the pressure on his shoulder as the favourite to taste victory.

Dubois is much improved since their first meeting, and scored a career-best KO victory over Anthony Joshua in his previous outing last September.

But Usyk is ready for all eventualities, albeit he expects to stop Dubois before he can hear the final bell.

He continued: “Daniel is a young guy, he is dangerous every time because he has a big punch and good boxing skills.

“I have prepared well for this fight. I prepare every time for 12 rounds.

“With my coach and team I always do, but if I have a chance I will do it.

“Yes of course I believe I will do it.”

BOXING

‘Could be worth billions’ – Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao back in stunning new talks as comeback fight looms

A staggering rematch between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao could be back on the cards.

The pair famously met in the ‘Fight of The Century’ in 2015, which Mayweather won, but the event was the biggest commercial and revenue-generating success in boxing history.

Anticipation for a rematch was huge given the size of the all-time great’s profiles, but it never materialised given both were coming to the end of their respective careers.

READ: English boxing referee suspended after asking woman for threesome.…

At the start of 2024, ‘Pac Man’ staggeringly appeared to announce a sequel would take place in 2025 after the pair met, but it failed to materialise.

But now the Filipino legend will be fighting in a full professional comeback against Mario Barrios this Saturday in Las Vegas for the WBC welterweight title.

Mayweather has previously been against making his own full comeback, given he owns a perfect 50-0 record.

Albeit in a staggering revelation, it appears that talks over a second instalment of their epic rivalry have now been brought back to the table.

In a quote obtained by renowned journalist Lance Pugmire from Mayweather’s camp, they believe it could be worth a record-breaking purse.

It read: “Conversations are already happening. If Manny wins, this rematch could be worth billions.”

Should Pacquiao taste victory in what would be an upset against a 30-year-old champion, it could set up a world title clash with Mayweather.

But it is unclear if the American would prefer to keep the second meeting within the rules of an exhibition or not.

Mayweather has fought in a series of exhibitions since retiring after a victory over Conor McGregor in 2017.

And he has only faced limited opposition including the likes of influencers Logan Paul and Deji Olatunji.

A showdown with Pacquiao would be a far meaner feat, despite the pair being far from the peak of their legendary powers.

But it remains to be seen if Pacquiao can pick up a win, given he looked a shadow of himself in his previous exhibition with kickboxing star Rukiya Anpo last year.

There are also justifiable health concerns regarding his return.

However, Pacquiao seems firmly open to the idea of renewing his rivalry with ‘Money’.

And he has already started a new war of words by criticising his famous foe in the build-up to his comeback.

He said of their previous clash: “Floyd Mayweather is running the whole 12 rounds, and he won the fight. How is that amazing?

“I feel sorry for the fans because the fight was boring. That’s not what the fans are expecting to us, as a fighter.

“As a fan, I want to see an exciting fight. Not a fashion show. Action!

“Rematch, with Floyd? I’m still active. It’s up to him if he’s going to fight.”

CELEB NEWS

No Rory McIlroy: Tiger Woods Named the 2 Best Players He Faced in Golf History

Tiger Woods is one of the greatest golfers in history. During his career, he has won 82 times on the PGA Tour, collecting 15 majors.

This includes five Masters, four PGA Championships, three US Opens and three Open Championships. His injury issues and personal problems looked like ending his career in the mid-2010’s, but Woods came back and completed one of the greatest comebacks in sport, winning his fifth Masters title in 2019 at the age of 43.

Woods announced himself to the world of professional golf in 1997, winning the Masters by a record-breaking 12 strokes at the age of 21. From 1999 to 2010, he was a dominant force in the sport, winning 13 major championships during this time. Woods’ 82 PGA Tour wins have only been matched by Sam Snead. If he can somehow return to action and win another event, he will top the all-time list for wins on the PGA Tour. Time is running out for the ‘Big Cat’, but he will be determined to defy the odds once again.

READ: Tiger Woods and son Charlie footage emerges as Ryder Cup hero makes bold claim

The American revolutionsed the game, combining his long-game prowess with extreme mental fortitude and clutch putting in key moments. In an interview with GolfTV in May 2020, Woods was asked who the best player he competed against during his career was. The 15-time Grand Slam champion replied with two household names, who both had huge impacts on the sport.

Woods has had many rivalries during his time as a professional. David Duval was one of the best players on the PGA Tour in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The American won 13 times on the tour between 1997 and 2001, including the Open Championship in 2001, which saw him win by three shots at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club.

The 49-year-old is also one of six male players who have achieved the Career Grand Slam. Rory McIlroy is the only member of the Career Grand Slam club that Woods has competed regularly against. The pair played with each other in the final round of the 2018 Tour Championship, with Woods finishing ahead of the Northern Irishman to win his first tournament in five years. Despite facing off against the likes of McIlroy, Woods admitted that there were two other stars who caused him the biggest trouble.

Tiger Woods’ Best Results at Majors
Competition	Best result
Masters	W (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019)
PGA Championship	W (1999, 2000, 2006, 2007)
US Open	W (2000, 2002, 2008)
The Open	W (2000, 2005, 2006)

Woods named Phil Mickelson as one of the two best players he has faced during his career. Mickelson is a golfing maverick, with 45 PGA Tour wins, including six majors. His most recent major victory came at the PGA Championship, when he was 50, meaning he became the oldest major championship winner in history. He has come agonisingly close to joining the Career Grand Slam club throughout his career, but the US Open has always eluded him. The short game magician has finished second six times in his National Open.

The 55-year-old’s flamboyant style, which included erratic driving and miraculous recovery shots, meant that he was one of the most popular players on the PGA Tour in the 2000s and 2010s. However, in 2022, Mickelson joined the controversial LIV Golf tour, meaning he was suspended from the PGA Tour indefinitely.

Phil Mickelson’s Best Results at Majors
Competition	Best result
Masters	W (2004, 2006, 2010)
PGA Championship	W (2005, 2021)
US Open	T2/2nd (1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2013)
The Open	W (2013)

The other man Woods name-checked, was Vijay Singh. The Fijian international won three major championships during his career. This included the Masters in 2000, which saw Singh beat Ernie Els by three strokes, while Woods was six behind the eventual champion.

His two other major triumphs came at the PGA Championship. The first of these was in 1998 and the second was in 2004. Singh dramatically beat Chris DiMarco and Justin Leonard in a play-off to secure his third and final major title. Singh’s 2004 season was particularly impressive. He won nine times on the PGA Tour, becoming the number one-ranked golfer in the world. This put him ahead of Woods, who had held the title for six consecutive years.

Singh’s consistent ball striking and power off the tee gave him a significant advantage over his opponents, helping him reach the pinnacle of the sport. He ended his career with 34 PGA Tour wins and a spot in the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Vijay Singh’s Best Results at Majors
Competition	Best result
Masters	W (2000)
PGA Championship	W (1998, 2004)
US Open	T3 (1999)
The Open	T2 (2003)

Speaking to McNamara in 2020, Woods explained why Mickelson and Singh were the two best players he faced during his career. The 49-year-old said:

“I would have to say it’s either Phil [Mickelson] or Vijay [Singh].

“Those two have won a lot of tournaments and they were so hard to beat in different ways.

“Phil didn’t hit the ball as well as Vijay but his short game was off the charts.

“Vijay hit it better, put a lot of pressure on you, but his short game – his chipping was awesome but he didn’t putt as well as Phil did.

“Those guys kept putting themselves there and I loved it. I loved the challenge of it. Phil and I and Vijay went at it for the better part of 15 years and it’s been a lot of fun.”