Phil Lets Tiger Know After Winning $9M Matchup: 'Won't Ever Let You Live This One Down'
After playing second fiddle to Tiger Woods for the last 20-plus years, Phil Mickelson finally holds something over his rival after defeating him in “The Match” on Friday.
The made-for-TV special pitted the two golfing greats against each other over 18 holes at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas.
However, 18 holes wasn’t enough as they were forced to go to golf’s overtime: extra holes.
Tiger and Phil will continue to play a 93-yard hole until a winner is decided. pic.twitter.com/uxC2MuprYk
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 24, 2018
Mickelson finally claimed victory on the 22nd hole, and with that took home $9 million in winnings.
He knows that this won’t suddenly make everyone think that he’s eclipsed Woods as a golfer, but he also admits that this win was very special.
“I know, big picture, your career is the greatest of all time,” Mickelson said to Woods. “I’ve seen you do things that are just remarkable. But just know I will not ever let you live this one down. I will bring it up every time I see you.”
Live with Phil and Tiger after their epic match in Las Vegas. https://t.co/5pB6Yoc1zd
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 24, 2018
Woods’ 14 major championships are the second-most all time, while Mickelson’s five wins are tied for 14th place.
Mickelson has finished in second place or tied for second place an astounding 11 times at majors, with many of those runner-ups to Woods. So for him to finally have something over Woods is very meaningful to Mickelson.
“It’s not the Masters, it’s not the U.S. Open, I know, but it’s something,” Mickelson said. “It’s nice to have a little something on you.”
The win in itself is nice, but the $9 million check is even nicer. Mickelson ranks second on the PGA Tour career money list, but this is the single biggest payday of his career.
Phil Mickelson wins $9M in #TheMatch against Tiger Woods.
It’s more money than he has made in a single PGA TOUR season.
Phil also won the prop bets 3-1, winning $600K and losing $200K (all going to charity). pic.twitter.com/zTBKO5mZzO
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 24, 2018
Many noted that Mickelson seemed much more motivated to play his best than Woods, and it showed in the difference in preparation between the two.
Mickelson practiced the course for weeks in the lead-up to the event, while Bob Harig of ESPN reported Woods practiced just a single day.
Tiger wasn’t even in Nevada when Friday began as he spent Thanksgiving with his family in Southern California before flying to Vegas on Friday morning.
Still, his “B-game” nearly netted him $9 million, and that should be a good sign for him once the real competition begins on the PGA Tour.
After “The Match,” Woods lamented the opportunities he missed that helped lead to Mickelson’s victory.
“I had plenty of opportunities to make putts today, and I didn’t make any putts to put a little bit of pressure on Phil. I had an opportunity on the last hole to win the match,” Woods said, referring to the first playoff hole on the par-5 18th, “and I hit a bad putt. And then in extra holes — how do you not hit the green with a lob wedge? Twice?
“So that was an opportunity that went wasted, and Phil capitalized on it.”
Truth and Accuracy
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.
Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.
