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Rory McIlroy has been amazing this season and has once again shown the consistency that was expected of him.

After years of criticism and intense pressure for not winning the Masters, Rory McIlroy finally broke his negative streak at the prestigious tournament this year.

The Northern Irish golfer lifted the “curse” and managed to win the Masters with an impressive performance at Augusta National. Such a victory certainly lifted a huge burden from his shoulders and paved the way for new victories and successes.

Tiger Woods and Vanessa Trump's Relationship: Everything We Know

READ: Tiger Woods’ Return to Play with Son Charlie Unknown After Surge

Probably the brightest moment after winning the Masters was winning the Ryder Cup on US soil, a feat that Rory considers the most demanding in golf.

How great and superior he is was demonstrated by the words of Tiger Woods.

Namely, US President Donald Trump, known as an avid golf fan, revealed in one of his podcasts what Tiger Woods told him about Rory McIlroy.

Tiger is known as one of the greatest in the sport, but the 49-year-old seems to be equally impressed with Rory McIlroy’s game.

“Rory’s got a great swing. Tiger told me that Rory is the best driver that he’d seen. And for Tiger to say that, that’s amazing, right, because Tiger is great at everything. But he said Rory’s the greatest driver he’s seen,” he said.

What can we expect?

Such words certainly mean a lot to the seasoned golfer, who has just as strong an ambition this year as he does next. He now faces a serious race on the DP World Tour, where he is aiming to win his seventh the Race to Dubai title.

The future of golf seems interesting, and most expect that the Northern Irish golfer will continue to be a dominant figure in the coming years, especially at the Majors. His experience and qualities could be crucial, especially now that he has managed to complete a career Grand Slam.

Globally, the future of golf will be interesting, with the hope that we will see equally exciting matches.

Phil Mickelson sends message to Tiger Woods after latest injury update

Phil Mickelson has sent fellow golf legend Tiger Woods a heartfelt message following the 15-time major winner’s latest injury setback. Woods, 49, has been sidelined since undergoing an Achilles surgery earlier this year that ruled him out until next year.

Tiger has suffered several other injury setbacks since recovering from a near-fatal car crash in February 2021. Golf fans will likely have to wait longer to see Woods back on the green after having disc replacement surgery, a seventh back surgery in a decade, further delaying a return to the PGA Tour.

Phil Mickelson Tiger Woods

JUST IN: Tiger Woods’ Return to Play with Son Charlie Unknown After Surge

“After experiencing pain and lack of mobility in my back, I consulted with doctors and surgeons to have tests taken,” Woods said in a statement. “I opted to have my disc replaced yesterday, and I already know I made a good decision for my health and my back.”

Mickelson, who was one of the highest-profile names to ditch the PGA Tour for the lucrative LIV Golf a few years ago and competed with and against Woods for championships, has sent his former rival a heartfelt message following the latest news. “I’m sorry to hear this, and I wish him the best for a speedy recovery,” Mickelson said on social media platform X.

It’s unclear at this point how deeply the latest surgery could impact Woods’s hopes of returning to competitive golf. His competitive performances have fallen far from their peak.

Last year, he competed in just five events, one of them the Genesis Invitational and the other four majors. He withdrew from the Genesis, finished dead last in the Masters, and missed the cut in the final three majors.

Before surgery in March, Woods had not long lost his mother. “This is the third time I’ve touched a club since my mom passed, so I haven’t really gotten into it,” Woods said. “My heart is not really into practicing right now. I’ve had so many other things to do with the TOUR and trying to do other things. Once I start probably feeling a little bit better and start getting into it, I’ll start looking at the schedule.”

Woods is also the face of TGL alongside 2025 Masters winner Rory McIlroy, which earned rave reviews following its first season. TGL is a high-tech, 9-hole team league designed for prime-time TV. Backed by NBC Sports, it blends fast-paced action, advanced shot-tracking, and fan-friendly production to bring a fresh, modern twist to the game.

“I think … we were able to showcase the game in a different light,” Woods said. “Everyone in today’s day and age, their attention span is not very long. So I think that what we were able to do with the shot clock and the time and the pace of play, I think that is great for the game and it’s great for the younger demographic.

“I think that we have so many different opportunities going forward with how this all turned out that the opportunities are endless. That’s what’s really neat. We can grow this bigger and better, and so many different options.…

“I’ve watched every match that I wasn’t playing in, and … these are the guys that I know. These are the personalities that I’ve seen on TOUR. But I think the fans are going to be able to see them in a different way.”

Tiger Woods’ Return to Play with Son Charlie Unknown After Surgery for Injuries

It remains to be seen whether Tiger Woods will be able to take the course for the Hero World Championship or the PNC Championship with his son, Charlie, after he announced on Saturday that he underwent back surgery on Friday.

“The scans determined that I had a collapsed disc in L4/5, disc fragments and a compromised spinal canal,” Woods said in a social media post. “I opted to have my disc replaced yesterday, and I already know I made a good decisions for my health and my back.”

READ: How Phil Mickelsons $9 million gamble on Tiger Woods backfired s

Doug Ferguson of the Associated Press reported it was the golfing legend’s seventh back surgery overall and second surgery of the year after he underwent surgery in March for a ruptured left Achilles tendon.

Woods, 49, hasn’t played professionally since the PNC Championship last year, and this year’s Hero World Championship and PNC Championship are both in December. That would be a quick turnaround after yet another back surgery, the first of which came in 2014.

He also underwent a lower-back fusion in 2017 and has played just 15 times in the last four years following a serious car crash in February 2021 that “shattered his right leg and ankle,” per Ferguson.

Four of those 15 events in the last four years came at the PNC Championship, where he is permitted to use a cart for the 36-hole tournament.

Woods is arguably the greatest golfer in the sport’s history with 15 major titles and 82 career PGA Tour wins. Only Jack Nicklaus (18) has won more majors, and Woods captured the attention of the entire sports world during his peak.

Injuries have largely prevented him from adding to his incredible resume of late, although his triumph at the 2019 Masters after his back fusion was one of the most memorable moments of his career.

Woods did not provide any specific details about a recovery timeline with his latest surgery announcement, although the procedure was considered a success.

Phil Mickelson’s $9 million gamble on Tiger Woods backfired spectacularly

When The Match: Tiger vs. Phil was first announced, it sounded like a dream come true for golf fans. Two of the sport’s biggest legends were set to face off in a one-on-one duel for a winner-take-all prize of nine million dollars. The event promised excitement, tension, and a chance to relive one of golf’s most famous rivalries. But when the day came in November 2018, it didn’t go as planned.

At that time, both Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson were past their prime years. The fire that once fueled their battles on the PGA Tour wasn’t quite the same. Still, the idea caught everyone’s attention, and it turns out the person who made it all happen was Mickelson himself.

Tiger Woods Vs. Phil Mickelson and Golf's Top 10 Rivalries of All-Time

JUST IN: Tiger Woods’ latest surgery casts doubt on a future comeback

During a recent episode of the Bible Caddie podcast, golf creator Grant Horvat shared that Mickelson had been the driving force behind The Match series.“Phil set up a lot of that,” Horvat said. “He was the one who pushed for those Capital One events with Tiger, Tom Brady, and Peyton Manning.”

Phil’s Vision Turned Into a TV Headache

Mickelson wanted to bring a new kind of entertainment to golf, blending the atmosphere of a big pay-per-view fight with the calm precision of the sport. On paper, it looked like a great idea. In reality, things went sideways before the first hole was even played.

Fans who paid $19.99 to watch the event couldn’t log in because of a streaming failure. According to Sports Illustrated, Bleacher Report ended up making the broadcast free to avoid more backlash. Viewers missed the start of the match, and the buzz quickly turned into frustration.

Once play began, the excitement never really showed up. The banter felt flat, and the competition moved slowly. Commentator Charles Barkley even joked on air that it was “some pretty bad golf.” After 18 holes, the match was tied, and it took four extra playoff holes before Mickelson finally won. The problem was that by then, most viewers had already tuned out, as reported by The Guardian.

A Lesson in Missed Opportunities

Mickelson’s later event, Champions for Charity, featuring Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, went much smoother and raised millions for COVID-19 relief. That version of The Match had humor, teamwork, and the kind of energy fans wanted the first time around.

The original $9 million showdown between Woods and Mickelson remains a reminder that big names and big money don’t always equal big entertainment. For Phil, it was an ambitious idea that changed how golf approached televised events, but it also showed how even the best concepts can fall short when the execution isn’t right.

Tiger Woods has undergone his seventh back surgery — his second in just over a year — after doctors discovered a collapsed lumbar disc that had caused severe pain and mobility issues.

The 49-year-old golfer announced on social media Saturday that the latest procedure, a disc replacement, was performed Friday in New York.

“After experiencing pain and lack of mobility in my back, I consulted with doctors and surgeons to have tests taken,” Woods wrote. “The scans determined that I had a collapsed disc in L4/5, disc fragments and a compromised spinal canal. I opted to have my disc replaced yesterday, and I already know I made a good decision for my health and my back.”

Tiger Woods’ medical history in the last 10 years

Tiger Woods Spinal Fusion Surgery: What Happened? | Golf Monthly

READ: 10 Tiger Woods statistics that will blow your mind

The operation adds to an extensive medical history for Woods, who has endured a string of surgeries on his back, knees, leg and Achilles over the past decade. He has not competed this year while recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered in March, and it is unclear when — or if — he will return to competitive golf. The 15-time major champion’s latest setback likely rules out appearances in December’s Hero World Challenge, which he hosts, and the PNC Championship, where he has played alongside his son Charlie.

Since surviving a 2021 car crash that nearly resulted in the amputation of his right leg, Woods has played only sparingly — just 15 official events in four years, often withdrawing mid-tournament due to pain. His most recent competitive round came in the TGL simulator league he co-founded with Rory McIlroy, though his October surgery now makes participation in the league’s upcoming season improbable.

Beyond the 15-major haul and the 82 PGA Tour wins, there are even more numbers behind this man’s career that are quite staggering

He represents one half of the ‘greatest golfer ever’ debate with Jack Nicklaus. He never did chase down the Golden Bear’s major haul of 18 titles, but there were fireworks along the way.

82 PGA Tour wins, to be precise, and not to mention 15 major titles. His victory at the 2019 Masters was quite something at a time when everyone had written him off, 11 years after his most recent major win at that stage.

He fist-pumped, he cheered, and he cried during an unforgettable career, and one of the likes that we won’t see again.

Tiger Woods

JUST IN: Phil Mickelson accused of misleading one major player into leaving the PGA Tour and joining LIV Golf

We want to go through the best statistics from Tiger’s career. We’ve given you some spoilers above with his PGA Tour and major tally, but we want to get into the specifics, the nitty-gritty, the numbers that are truly mesmerising.

Crazy Tiger Woods stats

Consecutive cuts made

This statistic is bananas. For over seven seasons, Woods made 142 cuts in a row.

He missed the cut at the 2005 EDS Byron Nelson Championship, and this was the first one he missed since the Bell Canadian Open in 1997. Remarkable.

Weeks spent as World No.1

Woods’ dominance wasn’t just clear by his trophy count, but also by the amount of time he spent at the top of the Official World Golf Rankings.

He was World No.1 for 683 weeks in his career. That is the equivalent of over 13 years. The next best is Greg Norman, who was World No.1 for 331 weeks, and Scottie Scheffler is the only current competitor who could conceivably catch either of these players.

Winning a major by 15 shots

A 15-shot margin is ridiculous, especially at a major. He won the 2000 US Open at Pebble Beach by this margin, beating Ernie Els and Miguel Angel Jimenez in second place.

He had a 10-shot lead after three rounds, and extended it by five with a final-round 67. He also won The Masters in 1999 by 12 shots and The Open in 2000 by eight shots.

Winning 41 times in Europe without being a member

Woods has never been a member of the DP World Tour, or what used to be called the European Tour. But he is credited with 41 victories on the Old World Circuit.

His first win at a European Tour event that wasn’t a major was at the Johnnie Walker Classic in Thailand in 1998.

The Tiger Slam

The Tiger Slam. Now this is something we will likely never see again. Woods held every major trophy at once, an achievement that spanned across 2000 and 2001.

His 2000 US Open started the streak. He then won The Open at St Andrews and the PGA Championship at Valhalla. Then April came around, and he won the Masters by two strokes from David Duval.

Win percentage

Through the 2025 season, Woods had played in 378 PGA Tour events and won 82 times. This is a win percentage of 21.69%, which is a truly staggering effort across a career spanning four different decades.

Leading the majors

This statistic is mightily impressive, but not completely surprising given he won 15 majors. When Woods led or shared the lead heading into the final round, he only lost once.

He led by two shots after the third round of the 2009 PGA Championship, but lost by three shots to Y.E. Yang. He came from behind to win the 2019 Masters, having trailed Francesco Molinari by two shots after 54 holes.

The Grand Slammers

Think of the number of golfers who have played in the majors in the history of the game. It is a lot, but there are only six golfers who have won all four men’s major titles.

Tiger Woods is one of them, and he completed his set of four at the 2000 Open. He was the youngest to do it, and he completed it in just three years to join Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus in this most exclusive club. Rory McIlroy earned his career grand slam at the 2025 Masters.

King of the US Amateur

Woods is the only player to have won the US Amateur three times in a row. His first came at the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in 1994, beating Trip Kuehne in the final.

He beat Buddy Marucci a year later by the same score at Newport Country Club the following year, and then Steve Scott was his third victim at Pumpkin Ridge on the 38th hole of the 36-hole final.

Top finishes

Woods successfully defended a title on the PGA Tour 24 times. He also finished runner-up 31 times and came third 19 times. This shows just how many more events he could’ve won.

He also holds the record for the most consecutive rounds under par. The streak began at the 2000 GTE Byron Nelson Classic in the second round and finished 52 rounds later at the 2001 Phoenix Open in the second round.

LIV Golf star Phil Mickelson is now one of the most divisive figures in the world of professional golf.

Mickelson played a leading role in the formation of LIV Golf back in 2022 after he upped sticks and led a mass exodus from the PGA Tour.

By his own admission, Mickelson ruined his chances of becoming Ryder Cup captain by joining LIV Golf.

That is such a shame, given the 55-year-old’s successful career in the game.

Phil Mickelson

READ: Tiger Woods vs Phil Mickelson: Whose career earnings and

He hasn’t done himself any favours with his recent claims about the Saudi-backed outfit.

Back in May, Mickelson suggested that LIV team golf is even better than the Ryder Cup at times.

That was obviously a ludicrous statement but it’s worth noting that Mickelson has actually been proven right with his suggestion that the PGA Tour were holding more money back from the players than they should have been.

Players on the PGA Tour now are much richer as a result of LIV Golf being formed.

However, people seem to forget that, and instead focus on some of the bad things he may or may not have done.

Phil Mickelson accused of misleading major player into joining LIV Golf

Brandel Chamblee is well known for criticising Mickelson and the driving force he played behind LIV’s emergence on the scene.

So it’s no surprise that Chamblee took aim at the six-time major champion yet again, when speaking on Trey Wingo’s podcast.

He even accused Mickelson of misleading Jon Rahm into joining LIV Golf.

Jon Rahm and Phil Mickelson on the green during The Open Championship 2024.

Chamblee said: A lot of the players out there were misled, thinking they would be the impetus for change.

Amongst them at the top of that heap was Jon Rahm. I think Jon Rahm was misled probably by Phil Mickelson, maybe by Greg Norman, that he was going to be the impetus for change.

That he was such a a monumental star that if they got him everything would collapse and they’d be forced to come together.

Chamblee is sometimes overly critical of LIV Golf. The main issue here is that he sometimes forgets that it is okay to criticise the Saudi regime and their human rights record while being open to the fact that LIV’s emergence has actually been a good thing for the PGA Tour.

The two things are not mutually exclusive.

The PGA Tour players are competing for more money right now than they ever have before, and that wouldn’t have happened without LIV coming onto the scene.

It’s also worth noting that Jon Rahm is very much his own man, and he would not have needed Mickelson to twist his arm in order to join LIV.

The four needle-movers in golf according to Brandel Chamblee

Chamblee has suggested that there are only four golfers in the world of professional golf who genuinely move the needle, so to speak, when it comes to getting fans watching the sport on TV.

He said: There are very few people in the game of golf who cause people to stop mowing their lawn to go inside and watch golf.

Tiger, Rory, Spieth, when Jordan Spieth was playing like Jordan Spieth and Phil Mickelson eons ago.

But when Phil went to LIV and talked about the atrocities of the people who fund LIV and said that, in essence, he could use LIV as leverage to get what he wanted from the PGA Tour, it turned a lot of people off. In fact, it turned everybody in the game of golf off and they saw LIV for what it was – a money grab.

In fairness, Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau should be on that list, but on the whole, Chamblee has got it spot on.

There genuinely aren’t many needle-movers in the world of professional golf, and LIV Golf definitely don’t have anywhere near enough of them.

Tiger Woods vs Phil Mickelson: Whose career earnings and investments reign supreme?

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are much more than two of golf’s greatest players. They’re two of its biggest business empires. Over the period of two decades, the two of them have defined what it means to succeed both on and off the course. They successfully turn championship wins and smart investments into huge opportunities.

Considering pure career earnings, Tiger Woods holds an upper hand. He earned over $120 million in PGA Tour winnings and numerous endorsement deals, making Woods golf’s first true billionaire athlete. He has a long partnership with Nike. This is estimated to have brought in roughly $500 million, helping transform him into a global icon. Ventures like his TGL tech-forward golf league and the Sun Day Red apparel brand with TaylorMade also portrayed an athlete who has mastered both performance and business.

Tiger Woods delivers surprising response to Phil Mickelson's rights gripes

JUST IN: Amanda Balionis reaction to treatment of Erica Stoll at Ryer Cup noticed

Phil Mickelson with his clear strategies

Phil Mickelson has left no stone unturned, either. He’s the PGA Tour’s second-highest earner, collecting around $96 million in prize money. His shift to LIV Golf in 2022 was worth $200 million. This added another layer to his already impressive wealth. Unlike Woods, Mickelson’s income stream has leaned heavily on endorsements. Brands like Rolex, Grayhawk Golf Club, and VisaJet are associated with him. His wellness coffee brand, For Wellness, has become a personal passion project. It is an example of how he has turned lifestyle into a business.

The two are well-known for their own unique characteristics, which are also clearly evident through their financial rivalry. Tiger Woods is known for being disciplined and private. He is careful with his money and spending. He’s even known for being a bit strict when it comes to tipping. Phil Mickelson, in contrast, is friendly and generous. He’s known for handing out $100 tips at lemonade stands and once gave $1,000 in tips to staff at Augusta after winning the Masters, earning him the reputation of being a “man of the people.”

The slight gap defining the personalities

When it comes to Augusta National, there is not much difference between the two. Mickelson now tops the Masters all-time earnings list with $9.8 million. This is just beating Woods from the edge, who owns $9.6 million. This clearly shows how the two legends are separated by a fine line. They are still pushing each other decades into their careers.

The answer to who wins is all about how success is measured. The bar of who reigns cannot be defined so easily. Woods may have the larger empire, but Mickelson’s generosity and longevity have carved him a legacy money can’t buy. In golf’s richest rivalry, both have won in their own way.

Erica Stoll, Rory McIlroy’s spouse, was struck by a beer cup while on the 17th green during the Ryder Cup amid a weekend filled with hostility directed at Team Europe and their loved ones.

“Golf should be held to a higher standard than what was seen out there this week,” McIlroy commented regarding the behavior from American spectators.

Veteran golf commentator Amanda Balionis – who worked with the PGA from 2011-2017 before joining CBS from 2017 to the present – like many, saw what should have been celebratory proceedings. After, she endorsed a detailed Instagram post from the Glamour Mag account demanding reform in golf’s atmosphere.

Rory McIlroy's wife Erica 'received astonishing amount of abuse' as Team  Europe rally around her after Ryder Cup hell | The US Sun

READ: Donald Trump responds to Rory McIlroy and Team Europe chants a

“If you need more evidence that culture is becoming more misogynistic in 2025, just look at Rory McIlroy’s wife’s Ryder Cup experience,” the post read.

“Over the weekend, Erica Stoll was subjected to the following: had a beer thrown at her head, was taunted with barbs about her brief 2024 split from her husband, and had to listen to fans chant the name of a woman who, some fans online claim without proof, had a relationship with McIlroy at some point around their breakup.

“At the link in bio, read why the hateful [in real life] harassment shows a cultural shift, one where men feel emboldened to attack women in public, without shame or consequence.”

Thankfully, McIlroy revealed during his post-match media session following Team Europe’s nail-biting 15-13 victory over Team USA that Stoll is all ok. “[Family should be off-limits, but it wasn’t this week,” he stated.

“Erica is fine. She’s a strong woman. She handled everything this week with class and poise and dignity like she always has. I love her and we’re going to have a good time celebrating [this win].”

Irish golfer Shane Lowry’s six-foot birdie putt on the 18th during Sunday’s singles ensured at least a retention of the Ryder Cup title for the Europeans.

He partnered with McIlroy in Saturday’s doubles and confirmed that Stoll was being harshly treated by the American fans.

“I was out there for two days with Erica McIlroy, and the amount of abuse that she received was astonishing,” he remarked. “And the way she was out there supporting her husband and supporting her team was unbelievable, and kudos to her for that.”

Donald Trump responds to Rory McIlroy and Team Europe chants about him after Ryder Cup

Donald Trump played up to Rory McIlroy and the rest of Team Europe chanting at him in the wake of their 2025 Ryder Cup victory by posting a four-word message to social media.

The U.S. President, known for his obsession with golf, will have been bitterly disappointed with Team USA’s failure to reclaim their crown on home soil over the weekend as they lost by a score of 15 to 13, despite a spirited comeback on the final day of play. It comes after the emcee at the heart of the controversy with McIlroy responded to the backlash she received.

Ryder Cup ready for Donald Trump visit as Rory McIlroy eyes European  history | The Independent

JUST IN: Rory McIlroy ‘angry and hurt’ as major life decision with Erica Stoll

Trump had actually been in attendance on the opening day after rocking up with his granddaughter, Kai, at Bethpage Black on Friday afternoon, where he quickly became the star of the show after arriving on Air Force One just in time for the fourballs.

But by the time the action was wrapped up on Sunday, Trump was nowhere to be seen as Team Europe captain Luke Donald hoisted the Ryder Cup trophy into the air for the second tournament in a row.

Amidst the celebrations, European fans present at Bethpage Black rubbed further salt into the wounds of Americans and their president with chants of “are you watching, Donald Trump?”, much to the amusement of Shane Lowry and McIlroy.

It appeared to stick with the team as they then filmed themselves repeating that same chant once they’d returned to their locker room, with McIlroy at the forefront of the video that soon went viral on social media.

On Tuesday, President Trump finally issued a response on X, although it would appear that he took it in good faith after offering his congratulations to the team

“Yes, I’m watching. Congratulations!” Trump wrote over the top of the video.

The 79-year-old went on to receive praise for his response, with many taking to the comments section to offer their thoughts on the scenario.

“This a sports celebration, a political taunt, and a viral content play all at once,” one person wrote. “The traditional walls between sports and politics are completely gone. DJT a great sport for this.”

A second user posted, “Well played, this is funny,” while a third added, “Trump with the good sportsmanship.” A fourth then said: “This is very gracious.”

After hearing of Team USA’s poor start to the tournament, Trump made sure to waste no time in getting out to New York, telling reporters ahead of flying out from Washington on Friday: “When I heard that, I said, ‘Let’s go on the plane, we have to try and help them!’”

Following his arrival at Bethpage Black, one expert lip reader claims that Trump said Team USA is “here to win” and has the “best players in the kingdom.” Things, of course, never went to plan, and McIlroy’s reaction to the Trump chants perhaps summed that up perfectly.