Tiger, ‘Lefty’ on evolution of their relationship
AUGUSTA, Ga. – Rory McIlroy ran into Tiger Woods on the practice range a little past noon on Tuesday.
“I never thought I’d see the day, Tiger and Phil playing a practice round at Augusta,” McIlroy said. Woods laughed. Yes, it was true. For the first time in their long, storied careers at Augusta National, Woods and Phil Mickelson, the two best players of their generation and fierce competitors for more than two decades, went off the 10th tee together for a practice round, the winners of seven green jackets joined by another Masters champion, Fred Couples, and Thomas Pieters.
Phil being Phil, Mickelson even dressed up for the special occasion, wearing a long sleeve, button-down dress shirt that works well in a boardroom and, per Mickelson, on the golf course, too.
“The only thing that was missing was a tie,” Woods said.
“It was something I just wanted to try out in a practice round and see how it felt,” Mickelson said. “In the right conditions, it’s fine. It’s a stretchy fabric, so it works well. Yeah, wanted to be dressed up for it.”
The two’s play was fashionable, as well.
Ahead of Thursday’s start of the 82nd Masters, Woods, a four-time Masters champion and a winner of 79 PGA Tour titles, and Mickelson, a three-time Masters champion and victor in 43 PGA Tour events, were partners and routed Couples and Pieters. Woods made eagles on the two backnine par-5s and Mickelson made birdies on the 14th, 16th and 17th in front of massive galleries.
“We had a five-hole stretch, we were 7 under, that was some fun play,” Mickelson said.
They had some fun behind the 15th green, too. They started hitting flops shots to various spots on the green when Mickelson then took aim at the hole to his right, flopped the ball onto the green and then watched it roll into the cup to the thunderous delight of the patrons.
The relationship between Woods and Mickelson, strained at times in the past, has become amicable, especially in recent years when Woods was unable to play because of back problems but was an assistant captain in the 2016 Ryder Cup and 2017 Presidents Cup, while Mickelson played in each.
“We have always had a respect and an appreciation for each other, but I believe coming together to work for a common goal of having success in the Ryder Cup has brought us closer together,” Mickelson said.
Woods said the relationship grew through a natural maturation.
“We have competed a lot of times coming down the stretch in events,” Woods said. “We were joking today about some of the thoughts that transpired here. We have gone through it a long time, and over the better part of 20 years, our friendship has certainly gotten a lot better.”
Mickelson even texted Woods during his run at the Valspar Championship earlier this year, when he finished second.
“To see him back out playing is incredible,” Mickelson said. “It felt like it was a different time continuum because I found myself pulling so hard for him. It was unusual. And I find that I want him to play well, and I’m excited to see him play so well. And he is playing well.” On that, Couples agreed. “These guys are top players,” Couples said. “He and Phil certainly did a lot of good things out there – they had several eagles, a lot of birdies. They enjoyed beating us badly. Tiger is hitting it a long way and hitting it really, really flush.
“Come Sunday, they may be paired together.”