The Greatest Showdown

It was one of golf’s great, but all too rare, clashes of the titans. Tiger Woods – nine majors deep into his incredible career, and Phil Mickelson – one Masters and 25 PGA Tour wins into his, were the two best players in the game, and making their rivalry even spicier was the fact they didn’t much like each other. Early in 2003, Mickelson had joked about Woods’ inferior equipment,

and at the 2004 Ryder Cup they had suffered humiliating defeats when paired together in the first day’s foursomes and fourball matches. The final round of the 2005 Ford Championship at Doral was, therefore, much anticipated, the battle the baying masses had craved.

They had gone head-tohead with the title on the line only twice before – at the 2001 Masters and 2003 Buick

Invitational, Woods coming out on top both times. At Doral, Mickelson had a twoshot lead at the start of the day but Woods drew level on the 10th with his fourth birdie then went two clear with an eagle on the 12th. Mickelson clawed back with birdies on the 13th and 14th.

Both bogeyed 16, but Woods make a decisive birdie on the 17th that Mickelson couldn’t match. And when

both parred the 18th (Mickelson’s chip from behind the green lipped out), Woods had won, finishing on 24-under – one clear of Mickelson.

From here The Woods/ Mickelson thing failed to catch fire. They have only been paired together on Sunday four times since then, Phil winning all. Sadly, that phenomenal last round at Doral was as good as it got.