The Stakes for the Tiger Woods-Phil Mickelson Match Just Got Even Higher
If you needed another reason — or a reason at all — to watch the Tiger Woods-Phil Mickelson $9 million pay-per-view match on Friday, the duo may have just given you one.
The two golf legends are squaring off in a winner-take-all $9 million, pay-per-view exhibition Friday at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas.
But now there is a little bit more money at stake. The two golfers agreed to a $200,000 side bet at a news conference held Wednesday to promote the match.
Phil Mickelson bet $100k that he’ll birdie the first hole during The Match. Tiger doubled it.
Friday’s going to be fun ? #CapitalOnesTheMatch pic.twitter.com/61WqqRzaCj
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 20, 2018
“I feel like the first hole is a great hole for me,” Mickelson said. “And I believe — in fact I’m willing to risk $100,000 that says I birdie the first hole. So that’s how good I feel heading into this match.
“You don’t have to take it at all, but I’m going to throw that out there,” Mickelson said to Woods.
“Hold on, hold on … So you think you can make birdie on the first hole?” Woods asked Mickelson.
Mickelson responded confidently, “I know I’m going to make birdie on the first hole.”
“Double it,” Woods responded.
Mickelson smiled and said, “Did you see how I baited him like that? Yes! $200 (thousand) says I birdie the first hole.”
Then Woods tried to get in his head.
“Alright, there’s water down the left … he likes to lose his golf ball to the left with that little flare out that he hits,” Woods joked.
“See here’s what you’re missing … I’m going to hit a 2-iron in the fairway and I’m a great short iron player. In fact, I’m one of the best … No. 1 on the tour stats,” Mickelson responded.
“But if he hits his 2-iron hot as he sometimes does … it will be up against that tree and he’s blocked out so he can’t spin the ball coming into that flag. So, yeah,” Woods said.
Mickelson paused and said, “And that’s how I was able to bait you,” after which the two men had a good laugh.
But the match, or the side bet, is no laughing matter. This will likely just be one of many side bets wagered throughout the event, which is a match-play format. The side bets are not part of the $9 million prize. The funds come from the golfers themselves with the proceeds going to charity.
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson just squared off at their PPV match play press conference in Las Vegas. Really made me feel at home sitting in attendance. pic.twitter.com/JNmmPbegF7
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) November 20, 2018
It will give fans willing to plunk down the $19.99 something to watch right off the first tee at the 415-yard par 4.
There were some other funny moments during the press conference. Mickelson remarked that Woods, 42, is six years younger than him, “even though he doesn’t look it.”
Both men were having fun with the trash talk, particularly Mickelson.
“This is a unique opportunity to do something that I’ve had a hard time doing, which is to get a leg up on Tiger even if it’s just one day,” Mickelson said, reported ESPN. “It’s great to win the $9 million, but I just don’t want to lose to him. The bragging rights are the thing. I want to be able to rub it in; I don’t want it to be rubbed in. I want to sit in the champions locker room at Augusta [National, home of the Masters] and talk smack.”
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.
