From the PGA Tour
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have shared the PGA Tour stage for nearly a quarter of a century. To say they are the two biggest stars of their generation is an understatement.
The numbers are overwhelming – a combined 983 PGA Tour tournaments played, producing 126 victories, 67 second-place finishes and countless thrills for golf fans.
On Sunday, they will come together again at Medalist Golf Club in Florida for a COVID-19 fundraising tournament.
Alongside will be a pair of other athletes who also know something about sharing the spotlight – NFL icons Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.
Capital One’s The Match: Champions for Charity features the two teams playing a four-ball (best-ball) format on the front nine and a modified alternate-shot format on the back.
Long history
Woods and Mickelson have a history competing together, having played in the same grouping 37 times on Tour, with Woods shooting the better score 18 times to Mickelson’s 15.
More importantly, Tiger has won 10 times compared to Mickelson’s five when went head to head in the same group.
They have finished 1-2 in nine Tour events beginning at the 1998 Sentry Tournament of Champions, where Mickelson held off a furious Sunday rally from Woods to win.
The pair finished 1-2 in an event in five consecutive years and last accomplished the feat at the 2009 Tour Championship.
Mickelson got the better of Woods that time, too, as he shot a bogey-free 65 on the final day to win by three shots.
The best of those epic matchups? That honour likely falls to the 2005 Ford Championship at Doral in Miami, where Tiger clipped Mickelson by one shot.
“It was electric,” said Woods, who went out in 33 strokes to shave a shot off his deficit as Mickelson turned in 34.
Woods making birdie at no. 10 to tie was riveting, but when he reached the green at the 605-yard 12th and made a 27-foot eagle putt to go two in front, the ground shook. Mickelson, however, wasn’t shaken.
The reigning Masters champion was in the midst of arguably his greatest stretch of play and would go on to win the PGA Championship five months later.
“I loved it,” said Lefty, “because I want a chance to compete against him at his best.”
Relentless
Mickelson proceeded to birdie the demanding par-3 13th and the par-4 14th to pull even. “That shows you what kind of competitor Phil is,” said Woods.
The deciding blow came at the par-4 17th, Tiger’s birdie helping him shoot 66 to overtake Mickelson (69).
Mickelson had a knack for beating Woods at his best. The most memorable of those wins was the 2000 Farmers Invitational at Torrey Pines, where Woods was going for an unprecedented seventh consecutive Tour victory.
But Mickelson, approaching his 30th birthday and nearly two years removed from his last win, stood tall with four birdies over his final six holes to stave off his rival.
“It was important for me to win again,” said Mickelson. “It was important for me to go head to head against the best player in the world and know that I can beat him.”
Here is a look at all nine times that the two have finished first and second in a Tour event.
1998 Sentry Tournament of Champions
LaCosta CC, Carlsbad, California: Mickelson, five ahead of Tiger to start the final day, hung on to win, at 17-under, but not before a 22-year-old Woods dazzled the crowd with a closing 64 to nearly steal the show.
1999 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational
Firestone CC, Akron, Ohio: Woods was a whopping seven ahead of Mickelson to start the final round, but with five birdies in his first 10 holes, Lefty got into the mix. A bogey at 16 by Mickelson slowed his charge, however, and Woods threw down a clutch birdie at 17 for a one-shot win.
2000 Farmers Invitational
Torrey Pines, San Diego, Calif.: Mickelson started Sunday six clear of Tiger, and they put on a show, combining for 13 birdies, two double bogeys and three bogeys. Mickelson shot 70 and held off Woods, who shot 68, by four strokes. Mickelson’s triumph halted Woods’ streak of six straight wins.
2000 Tour Championship
East Lake CC, Atlanta, Georgia: Mickelson started the final round one behind Woods, the co-leader with Vijay Singh, but put up a 4-under 66 to rally for a two-stroke victory. Woods shot 69 and was denied a 10th win that season.
2001 Arnold Palmer Invitational
Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando, Florida: Four behind Woods to start the final round, Mickelson charged home in 66 and was tied for the lead when he finished. But Woods birdied the final hole, shot 69, and won by one.
2002 U.S. Open
Bethpage State Park (Black), Farmingdale, New York: The only time they’ve finished 1-2 in a major, this was vintage Woods relentlessly holding on despite not having his best stuff. He began the final round five shots ahead of Mickelson, bogeyed each of his first two holes, and two of his last three, but shot 72 and held on to win by three.
2005 Ford Championship at Doral
Doral Resort and Lodge, Miami, Florida: The only time in their careers that Woods and Mickelson have been in the final pairing in a final round and finished 1-2. Woods closed with a 66 to overtake Mickelson, who shot 69. It was arguably their greatest head-to-head battle.
2007 Deutsche Bank Championship
TPC Boston, Norton, Massachusetts: Paired in the penultimate group on the final day, Mickelson was two off the lead, Woods three, and all eyes were on them. Mickelson fired a 66 to win the tournament, Woods setting for a 67 to tie for second.
2009 Tour Championship
East Lake GC, Atlanta: Utterly brilliant finish by Mickelson, who shot a bogey-free 65 and came from behind to win by three over Woods. Mickelson got $1.35m for winning Tour Championship, Tiger earned $10m for season-long FedExCup Championship.
Also read: Woods, Mickelson line up charity rematch, with add-ons this time
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