Phil-tiger in NLV?
Mickelson says $10 million match set for Shadow Creek
Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods say they like to bet anything that makes them uncomfortable on the golf course.
Ten million dollars should make them extremely uncomfortable.
Mickelson confirmed Thursday a winner-take-all $10 million match against Woods will take place Thanksgiving weekend at Shadow Creek Golf Course.
“We’ll have more (details) shortly. As we firm up more and more details, we’ll let
GOLF
everybody know,” Mickelson said following first-round play at the World Golf Classic-bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio. “Right now we just know that it’s going to be Thanksgiving weekend for sure.”
The match, which is expected to be 18 holes, has yet to be finalized, according to a source familiar with the negotiations but not authorized to discuss them. The source said more time is needed before an official announcement can be made.
Ticket information, whether the money would come from the golfers or sponsors and whether the match will be played Nov. 23 or 24 have not been revealed. In July, the source told the Las Vegas Review-journal expectations were for the match “to be held in the fall” at the North Las Vegas private course.
Woods, 42, and Mickelson, 48, are the top two money earners in PGA Tour history. Woods ranks second all-time in tour victories with 79; Mickelson’s 43 wins rank ninth.
They have been public in the last four months about their intent to play a made-for-television event against each other.
Talk of the match was rekindled Wednesday when the pair played in a practice round together at the Firestone Country Club in Ohio.
Woods was tight-lipped earlier Thursday after his round at the Bridgestone.
“I have nothing further to add to it,” Woods said. “I haven’t signed anything. Nothing is confirmed. When it is, I’ll let you guys know.”
Westgate sports book manager
Jeff Sherman said he had planned to open Woods as a minus-130 favorite over Mickelson on Thursday morning. But he posted the price at minus-150 after watching Woods flirt with the top five en route to firing a 4-under 66 in the first round of the Bridgestone.
“He just continues to blister on the course,” Sherman said. “He’s having a great year and he was doing great (Thursday).
“He’s been consistently better than Phil most of the season.”
Mickelson also opened with a 66 at the Bridgestone.
After taking a $2,000 limit wager on Mickelson at plus-130, the Westgate moved Woods to a minus-140 favorite and Phil to a plus-120 underdog.
Sherman posted odds on fourday matchups between Woods and Mickelson at the U.S. Open and British Open, where Tiger closed as a minus-130 favorite.
“There hasn’t been too much action (on the matchups),” Sherman said. “But there’s been a little more on the Tiger side.”
It wouldn’t be the first time Mickelson and Woods have competed against each other in a made-for-television event. Between 1999 and 2005 and then again in 2012, Woods was a main star in the prime-time Monday Night Golf series on ABC.
From 2003 to 2005, Mickelson and Woods played against each other in the Battle of the Bridges in Rancho Sante Fe, California, a team event that was part of Monday Night Golf. In 2003, Mickelson and Sergio Garcia defeated Woods and Ernie Els 3 and 1. In 2004, Woods and Hank Kuehne defeated Mickelson and John Daly 2 and 1. In 2005, Woods and Daly lost to Mickelson and Retief Goosen 5 and 3.
Freelance writer Brian Hurlburt can be reached at bhurlburt5@gmail. com or @Lvgolfinsider.