Phil Mickelson in no doubt about golf GOAT — ‘He | Sports News

PGA Tour icon and present LIV star Phil Mickelson is a legend in his own proper, however nonetheless believes, like others, that Tiger Woods is the best ever to the touch a golf membership.

“He owned me the first half of our careers,” Mickelson informed YouTuber Grant Horvat. “His record against me head-to-head was dominant. It is now even when we play together.” Mickelson was as soon as informed that if he drove the ball straighter during his profession, he can be more like Woods.  

“Obviously, his report is his report. He’s the best of all time,” he continued. “I’ve seen him do things with a golf ball that I’ve never seen anyone else do. His play in 2000 was indescribable. He owned me in the early part of our careers, and the second part, I owned him. Our head-to-head record is, I believe, dead even.”

Indescribable would possibly even be placing it calmly. 2000 continues to be thought of probably the most unbelievable single season in golf historical past. Woods received 9 tournaments and annihilated the competitors.

He earned wins at Pebble Beach, Bay Hill, The Memorial, the U.S. Open, The Open Championship, the PGA Championship, and the EMC World Cup. In between, he was runner-up on the Buick Invitational, The Players, and the Tour Championship.

The LIV Golf star was on the opposite finish of that greatness more occasions than he in all probability cares to recollect. According to NBC Sports, in the 38 rounds they’ve performed collectively up to 2020, Woods carded the decrease rating 19 occasions.

Mickelson achieved 15 wins, tying with Woods 4 occasions. Overall stroke rely favors Woods again, 2,653 to 2,678. Woods had a decrease average rating when paired with Mickelson (69.60 versus 69.91), received more tournaments in these pairings (10 in comparison with 5), and completed 20 strokes below par throughout these rounds.

Mickelson’s accolades embrace 45 PGA Tour wins, six majors, and the excellence of being the oldest main winner in golf historical past. His “Tiger Slayer” driver was even the headline membership on the 2012 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the place he outdueled Charlie Wi and despatched Woods plunging down the leaderboard to a Fifteenth-place end. Mickelson walked away with $1.1 million that day. Woods went home with simply $102,000, low by his commonplace.

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While Mickelson praised Woods because the GOAT, Tiger refers to Jack Nicklaus as the best participant of the game. Despite tying Sam Snead with 82 PGA Tour wins and ending simply three shy of Nicklaus’ main whole, Tiger nonetheless calls Nicklaus king.

Nicklaus returned the favor to Woods after calling Bobby Jones the best golfer to ever stay. He acknowledged that Woods would have surpassed all others if he had not confronted accidents during his profession. Jones stays the one participant to have achieved a Grand Slam in one calendar 12 months, together with profitable the British Open, U.S. Open, British Amateur, and U.S. Amateur. Rory McIlroy’s Masters victory accomplished a profession grand slam.

“We all have injuries, we all have different things in our lives which change things, and Tiger had his problems,” said Nicklaus. “I really feel unhealthy for him about it, however it’s what it’s. He’s nonetheless a great affect on the sport of golf.”