One of the greatest sporting rivalries that enthralled fans for two decades has a backstory. The complex relationship between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson started in the mid-1990s, even before Woods had turned pro in 1996. Mickelson, five years older, was still a young sensation in the circuit.
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The two greatest players of their generation fascinated the golf world, as their careers got inextricably linked. But even off the course, their love-hate rivalry offered enough intrigue for people to write books on the subject. One such book, ‘PHIL: The Rip-Roaring (and Unauthorized!) Biography of Golf’s Most Colorful Superstar‘ by Alan Shipnuck took the readers to the very beginning, when it all started.
Nemesis puts the boot in
Golf journalist Shipnuck is Mickelson’s nemesis, but more on that later. In his book, Alan mentions an incident that happened at the Masters many moons ago. Even a young Woods, yet to turn professional, was ‘game’ enough to aim a dig at Mickelson.
“At a long-ago Masters, when Tiger Woods was just an intriguing amateur prospect and Phil Mickelson a hotshot young pro who was being billed as the Next Nicklaus, Woods sneaked a reporter into the Crow’s Nest, the tiny dormitory perched atop the Augusta National clubhouse. Tiger was monitoring the Masters telecast when Mickelson alighted the screen,” Shipnuck wrote in his book.
It went on: “Employing a putting stroke that was much too long and loose for the slippery greens, Mickelson characteristically charged a putt past the hole. As the ball trickled farther and farther from the cup, Woods offered only one word of commentary: ‘Roll’.”
Shipnuck also dug deep into Mickelson’s gambling. He informed the readers that the golfer’s gambling losses totalled north of $40 million between 2010 and 2014, according to the writer’s sources.
As for Woods and Mickelson, they are two contrasting characters with completely different styles of play. If Woods is calm, composed and aloof, Mickelson’s golf, more often than not, is flashy and risk-prone. And their backgrounds couldn’t have been more different.
All’s well that ends well
Mickelson, a right-hander who plays left-handed, was talented enough to be considered Jack Nicklaus’ heir apparent. But then, Woods arrived on the scene and started to win Major after Major. Mickelson’s 45 PGA tour wins has six Majors. Woods, on the other hand, has 15 Major wins in his kitty, second only to Nicklaus’ 18.
The two eventually buried the hatchet, when Woods and Mickelson played a practice round together after 20 years, at the 2018 Masters. And, according to Mickelson, their rivalry turned into one of the best friendships in sport.
