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Tiger Woods has a perfect opportunity to get one over on Phil Mickelson for one

By Admin December 10, 2025

Tiger Woods has a perfect opportunity to get one over on Phil Mickelson for one final time

While the likes of Vijay Singh and Ernie Els enjoyed huge success at a similar time, there is surely no question that Phil Mickelson was the greatest rival of Tiger Woods’ career.

It would be fascinating to know what Phil Mickelson‘s career would have looked like had Tiger Woods never emerged onto the scene in the 1990s. Mickelson always looked destined for greatness; winning a PGA Tour event as an amateur in 1991.

READ: Tiger Woods hints at major career shift with unexpected appea

However, Woods’ emergence took a lot of the shine off of the left-hander – and somewhat exposed the potential Mickelson was probably set to leave on the table. Woods had won eight majors before Mickelson won his first at the 2004 Masters.

Woods apparently never fully respected Mickelson due to the fact that he did not make the most of his talent. Of course, there is a reason that they were only ever paired together twice in the Ryder Cup – both on the first day of the 2004 event – with the partnership suffering two defeats.

Tiger Woods has a final opportunity to get one over on Phil Mickelson

Woods will recognise that having Mickelson chasing him was hugely beneficial for his career. Nevertheless, there must be a part of him that feels a strong sense of satisfaction that he more than played his part in Mickelson never reaching world number one.

And as both men find themselves in the twilight of their careers, it appears that Woods has one more opportunity to get one over on the 55-year-old.

Speaking at the press conference ahead of this week’s Hero World Challenge, Woods was asked what his motivation is to be a part of the Future Competitions Committee on the PGA Tour.

“Well, the PGA Tour gave me an opportunity to chase after a childhood dream. I got a chance to hit my first ball in my first PGA Tour event when I was 16 years old. I know that’s what, 33 years ago, but I’ve been involved with the PGA Tour ever since then,” he said.

“A little kid from Cypress California growing up on a par three course got a chance to play against the best players in the world and make it to world number one. I got a chance to be involved in a lot of different things on our tour.

“This is a different opportunity to make an impact on the tour. I did it with my golf clubs, I made a few putts here and there and was able to do that. Now I am able to make an impact in a different way for other generations to come. Not just generations that I played against, but for future generations like a 16-year-old looking for a place to play and maybe in hopes of playing PGA Tour.”

Phil Mickelson may ultimately be vindicated for controversial LIV Golf move, but is unlikely to receive any credit

Woods was involved in the decision to appoint Brian Rolapp as the new CEO. Meanwhile, he has previously been at the centre of talks with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia.

Woods said that a merger with LIV Golf was close in February.

So it is fair to say that the 15-time major champion is going to have a significant say on what the future of the PGA Tour looks like.

And, crucially, if the changes to the PGA Tour over the coming years prove to be successful, Woods is going to be lauded for the work he has done in the elder statesmen portion of his career.

Of course, he has absolutely nothing to prove anyway. However, it would certainly add to Woods’ legacy if he helps the PGA Tour really thrive after his time as a full-time player has come to an end.

It would potentially be particularly difficult for Mickelson to see. Mickelson will surely argue that his decision to join LIV Golf was a huge moment in changing the PGA Tour.

The tour could not afford to be complacent any longer with LIV lurking. And the league made no bigger statement than convincing Mickelson to sign in 2022. It would be no surprise if a number of big names felt prepared to make the jump only after seeing the six-time major champion go.

However, the way Mickelson handled the defection unquestionably damaged his legacy beyond repair in the eyes of many. Several Augusta National members urged Mickelson to not play the 2022 Masters due to the controversy surrounding him at the time.

If Mickelson’s motivation was to transform the PGA Tour, it is fair to say that he looks set to get his wish.

However, if his great rival plays his cards right over the next few years, it will largely be Woods who receives most of the plaudits.

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“More to come”: Phil Mickelson Takes Legal Action Over

By Admin November 13, 2025

Phil Mickelson Takes Legal Action Over Defamation Claims

Phil Mickelson was winding down his season when a fresh controversy landed squarely in his lap.

The six-time major winner, who’s no stranger to headlines both on and off the course, found himself accused of leaking insider information about a Houston-based offshore oil startup, Sable Offshore.

Per Hunterbrook, Mickelson received material non-public information and shared it in a private group chat on X with investors.

JUST IN: Like Father, Like Son: Charlie Woods Earns AJGA First-Team Honors Alongside Tiger

The LIV Golf pro didn’t wait long to respond. Days after the story broke, he took to X to announce that he’s retained high-profile defamation attorney Tom Clare to “advise and represent” him in the matter.

Clare is known for representing public figures in high-stakes media battles, including clients like Dominion Voting Systems and NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson.

“I know from experience that being in the public eye makes me a frequent target for sensationalized media coverage,” Mickelson posted on X. “I get that it comes with the territory, but there are legal limits on false reports. And while I may have been willing to ‘let it go’ in the past, I’m no longer going to sit quietly and take it when those lines are crossed.”

“More to come….Lots,” the 55-year-old added.

Mickelson’s post happened to be public just hours after “Pablo Torre Finds Out” aired an episode with Sam Koppelman, one of the people who helped write the Hunterbrook report.

The episode looked at the leaked messages and Mickelson’s alleged role in passing along sensitive information from Sable Offshore CEO Jim Flores. According to Hunterbrook, Flores had informed select investors, including Mickelson, about a pending $200 million equity raise, which had not been publicly disclosed.

Mickelson, famously known as Lefty, has since pushed back hard, replying to social media posts from Hunterbrook, Torre and others.

“So a company says I can’t say anything to you but we will announce something at the close,” he posted on X. “I don’t know if it’s a dilution and the stock goes down or a deal for the stock to go up. I have to wait to see what the info is, I make no trades whatsoever and am ultra ultra careful given past history. I don’t even share that information is coming til after the close.”

He even brought the focus back to Hunterbrook, questioning its own practices and accusing the outlet of manipulating the market. “This looks like stock manipulation on their part and slanderous,” Lefty posted on X. “Did they make any trades today?”

Mickelson’s reference to “past history” likely alludes to his 2016 involvement in an insider trading case tied to Dean Foods. Though he wasn’t charged, the SEC labeled him a “relief defendant,” and he returned over $1 million in profits.

That episode left a lasting mark on his reputation, and this time, he appears determined to fight back.

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Phil Mickelson sends message to Tiger Woods after latest

By Admin October 13, 2025

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.

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.”

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

By Admin October 12, 2025

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.

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.

My favorite version of The Match was Tiger Woods/Peyton Manning vs Phil Mickelson/Tom Brady. HILARIOUS. Hard to believe that was *4!* years ago (right after Covid hit).

Phil: “I gotta activate the calves and I gotta STEP on one here!” 😂#TheShowdown pic.twitter.com/FuQ83cCD04

— Brad (@StatsBrad) December 18, 2024

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.

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

By Admin October 11, 2025

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.

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.

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.

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Tiger Woods vs Phil Mickelson: Whose career earnings and

By Admin October 10, 2025

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Phil Mickelson told Greg Norman exactly what he thought of him after being removed by LIV Golf

By Admin October 6, 2025

Greg Norman has revealed that Phil Mickelson was among the players who reached out to thank him for his efforts after the Australian was ushered out as CEO of LIV Golf.

Norman was the driving force behind the creation of the breakaway league, luring top stars like six-time major champion Mickelson to turn their backs on the PGA Tour and join the Saudi Arabia-bankrolled circuit in 2022.

Two-time major champion Norman became golf’s most divisive figure as a result of the breakaway, leaving fractures in the sport that have yet to be healed. He would be removed from his post as CEO in January as the league hired a more statesmanlike leader in Scott O’Neil.

READ: Phil Mickelson pours cold water on Tiger Woods’ Ryder Cup captain

Norman remained affiliated with LIV until September, when he announced his departure, and he has spoken publicly on his exit for the first time in an interview with Australian Golf Digest.

Norman says Mickelson, Ian Poulter, and Lee Westwood were among the players to show their appreciation to the 70-year-old after his association with LIV came to an end.

“There were certain players that really came up to me and there were a few others that came up to me and just thanked me for what I did for them, for being the tip of the spear, for taking it all on,” says Norman.

“Phil took [plenty of heat] too, but I took it on behalf of all the guys, so that to me was part of the job – I had to do it, right? And if you’re going to make meaningful change, running through a brick wall without getting bloody, that’s not going to happen.

“So, the guys did reach out to me – not all of them, no – but probably Phil was the one who really was very open about it and appreciative of what I did do. Poults was the same, along with Westy.”

In the interview, Norman said his three years as LIV’s commissioner and CEO took a significant toll on him. “I enjoyed my time at LIV. But I’ll be honest with you, it was hard,” he said.

“It was very draining on me. I was working 100-hour weeks. I’m not going to say all the abuse was anything [of consequence], but what hurt me the most was the lack of understanding of why people would judge me and give the abuse they did.

“That was the thing that bothered me the most, because I’m the type of guy who will happily sit down and talk about things. And if I’m wrong, I’ll admit I’m wrong.

“But don’t judge me. Don’t judge what LIV was truly all about.”

Reflecting on his tenure, Norman dubbed it “mission accomplished,” citing increased purses for players across the sport and securing LIV’s place in the professional golf ecosystem despite “headwinds” and “misperceptions.”

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Phil Mickelson pours cold water on Tiger Woods’ Ryder Cup captain

By Admin October 5, 2025

Phil Mickelson pours cold water on Tiger Woods’ Ryder Cup captaincy and names two alternatives

Phil Mickelson has talked down the idea of Tiger Woods leading Team USA at the next Ryder Cup and named his two choices ahead of the golf legend.

In the wake of Europe’s stunning Ryder Cup triumph at Bethpage Black over the weekend, talks of Woods leading the USA at Adare Manor in 2027 has been rife.

READ: How Charlie Woods Leads Team to Victory at South Florida PGA Hi

Mickelson, on the final day of this year’s action, ruled himself out the running for the captaincy role and now has said that Woods should do the same.

In response to one fan on social media, who had claimed that Woods is ‘not the answer’, Mickelson suggested basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski and football coach Lou Holtz are two options that the USA should look into.

In a post on X, he explained: ‘Here is why looking outside of golf to a coach K [Krzyzewski] or Lou holtz is worth exploring.

‘Golf is an individual sport that doesn’t have team work, support system, partnership, team analytics, personality traits, and more.

‘The Europeans have a template that teaches and prepares their captains for these skills. U.S. has a new template every 2 years with little continuity.

‘If a coach K or Lou Holtz or someone similar took over, would it be built upon or would it be scrapped and start over again afterwards? If that’s the case, it would be a waste of time and effort and not worth doing to begin with’.

USA’s captain for this year’s event, Keegan Bradley, came under fire from critics after his role in hyping up the rowdy fans in attendance and the overwhelming feeling that the Americans entered the tournament underprepared compared to their rivals.

The contrast between the two captains was striking with Luke Donald, the European skipper, being the personification of meticulous planning and flawless strategizing.

Woods’ name has cropped up as the ideal candidate to succeed Bradley but Mickelson would prefer Krzyzewski or Holtz – despite their lack of golf expertise.

Krzyzewski was a five-time national champion during his time as head coach of Duke University from 1980-2022 and is regarded as one of the greatest college basketball coaches of all time.

He also leade the United States national team to gold medals at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games and played a role in their success at recent FIBA World Cups.

However, he has not been on the sidelines since 2022 and previously claimed he was not going to ‘pull a Tom Brady’.

Holtz, meanwhile, is best known for his tenure at Notre Dame, where he led the Fighting Irish to the 1988 National Championship and 100 wins.

He remains the only college football coach to lead six different programs to bowl games and the only coach to guide four different programs to the final top 15 rankings.

After retiring from coaching, he since worked as a TV college football analyst but called time on that back in 2015.

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Jack Nicklaus makes bold Tiger Woods prediction and aims dig at Phil Mickelson

By Admin September 27, 2025

Jack Nicklaus has predicted that Tiger Woods will “dominate” the Senior Tour if the 15-time major champion chooses to play when eligible.

Woods turns 50 later this year and will become eligible for the series now known as the PGA Tour Champions. His playing future is uncertain after a torn achilles ended his spring, forcing him to miss the Masters at Augusta.

Woods has played sparingly in recent years while battling significant injury issues, though remains eligible for many top events on the PGA Tour.

READ: How Tiger Woods’ relationship with Vanessa Trump got exposed

It may be that the 82-time winner does not wish to play in the age-group tour, which has 28 events on its 2025 calendar.

But Nicklaus believes that Woods, who is three short of his record tally of major titles, will compete.

“I think Tiger will get well and Tiger will be back and play,” Nicklaus said after opening the Masters alongside Gary Player and Tom Watson.

“I believe he’ll probably play the senior tour and I believe he’ll probably dominate the senior tour. Tiger is too much of a competitor to not play. I don’t believe he will not play. I believe he will play.

“I don’t think Tiger will play for money. He doesn’t need money. Tiger will play for competition. He loves competition, and he’s very good at it, obviously.”

Nicklaus’s record, once thought likely to fall when Woods was in his pomp, appears safe, with Woods no longer regularly competitive in the majors.

Among currently active golfers, Phil Mickelson has the second-best major title tally, with six, though the left-hander has missed the cut at four of his last six majors after joining LIV Golf.

Nicklaus appeared to take a shot at the Saudi-backed breakaway series when he questioned the level at which Mickelson is playing.

“I don’t know what level Phil is competing at,” said Nicklaus. “I guess he’s still playing. He’s playing the LIV Tour, is he? I don’t know if he’s playing or not. I don’t know, you never see that any more.”

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How Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson feud embarrassed USA and l

By Admin September 24, 2025

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson feud embarrassed USA and led to landslide European win

The love-hate rivalry between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson fascinated golf fans for decades.

It began way back in 1998, when the pair played a practice round ahead of the Nissan Open at the Valencia Country Club in California.

Woods and Mickelson had agreed to a bet, with the winner taking a $500 prize from the other.

READ: Vanessa Trump and Tiger Woods’ relationship timeline amid rum

On that day, it was the latter who won.

Mickelson celebrated by putting photocopies of his five winning $100 bills into Woods’ locker, accompanied by a note that read: “Just wanted you to know Benji and his friends are very happy in their new home.”

A young Woods was furious, and two of America’s most exciting pros wouldn’t play another practice round together for two decades.

They finally did, 20 years on, at the 2018 Masters.

But long before they reconciled at Augusta, Woods and Mickelson were paired together at the Ryder Cup in 2004.

“I felt like history needed it. I felt like the fans needed it. And, most of all, I felt like Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods needed it,” US captain Hal Sutton said of his decision to put the two rivals together.

However, because of their complex relationship, the pairing did not turn out to be the masterstroke that Sutton had hoped.

In fact, it was a spectacular failure..

Ryder Cup pairing backfires on opening day

Despite being the two highest ranked players in the field at the 2004 Ryder Cup, Woods and Mickelson had not been paired together in the previous three editions.

Tiger, who was still the youngest player on the team, had already generated a reputation for being a difficult player to find the right partner for.

Before arriving at Oakland Hills Country Club in Michigan, he had already teed it up with eight different partners.

Mickelson would be his ninth, and arguably his worst yet.

The pairing lost both of their matches on the Friday, and were first defeated by in the morning fourball, 2&1, by Colin Montgomerie and Padraig Harrington.

But the real trouble came in the afternoon, when Woods and Mickelson were asked to play alternate shot against Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood.

Alternate shot is a 2v2 matchup in which each team plays one ball, alternating shots between the two players until the ball has been holed.

The problem in 2004? One would need to use a ball that wasn’t particularly suited to their game.

Why did Woods and Mickelson fail in alternate shot match?

“We were told two days before that we were playing together,” Mickelson said of his pairing with Woods, more than a decade on from 2004.

“And that gave us no time to work together and prepare.

“(Woods) found out the year before when we played at the Presidents Cup in 2003 that the golf ball I was playing was not going to work for him.

“He plays a very high-spin ball and I play a very low-spin ball, and we had to come up in two days with a solution.”

Mickelson went on to detail his attempts to practice with Woods’ balls, just days ahead of the Ryder Cup.

“I grabbed a couple dozen of his balls, I went off to the side and tried to learn his golf ball in a four or five-hour session,” he said.

“And it forced me to stop my preparation for the tournament, to stop chipping and stop putting and stop sharpening my game and stop learning the golf course in an effort to crash-course and learn a whole different golf ball that we were going to be playing.

“In the history of my career, I have never ball-tested two days prior to a major. I’ve never done it. It doesn’t allow me to play my best.

“What allows me to play my best is to learn the course, sharpen my touch on the greens, sharpen my chipping out of the rough and ball striking and so forth.

“Instead, I’m taking four or five hours, and I’m out trying to learn another ball to allow us to play our best.

“Had we known a month in advance, we might have been able to make it work. I think we probably would have made it work. But we didn’t know until two days prior.”

When it eventually came around on Friday afternoon, the match went to the 18th hole, where Clarke and Westwood won 1-up.

US embarrassed in big Ryder Cup loss

With what was supposed to be America’s top pair falling, Europe led 6½ -1½ after the opening day, while only Chris DiMarco and Jay Haas won a full point for the home team.

By Saturday afternoon, the gap had widened, and the visitors took an 11-5 lead into the singles, eventually winning the Ryder Cup by a massive 18½ to 9½.

It was the largest winning margin by a European team in the history of the event, and the largest by either side since 1981.

The 18½-9½ loss was also the largest margin of defeat for the US since the competition started in 1927.

All in all, Mickelson went 1-3 at the 2004 Ryder Cup, and Woods was 2-3.

Sutton’s decision to pair the two together was heavily criticized in the aftermath of the event, while Woods and Mickelson were never paired together again.

“I felt like the world of golf would be better off if Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson became friends, and I felt like if they played together, had fun and beat somebody, they would end up being friends,” Sutton said 10 years later.

“They didn’t beat anybody. It couldn’t be their fault. It had to be Hal Sutton’s fault. It had to be.”

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