Popularity vote goes to Woods

TIGER WOODS is still officially the biggest name in golf after winning an $8million popularity prize without playing a single PGA Tour event last year.

And the 15-time Major winner celebrated by taking to social media to troll runner-up Phil Mickelson.

The $40m Player Impact Programme (PIP) was set up by the Tour to reward top stars for their engagement on social media.

Rory McIlroy banks $3.5m in third place while half the top 10 – including Dustin Johnson – have been linked with a move to the Saudi-backed Super League.

Mickelson, right, has said he will be taking “some time away” from golf after the fallout following his involvement in the breakaway league.

In December, the USPGA champion took to social media to write: “I’d like to thank all the crazies [and real supporters too] for… helping me win the PIP!!”

Woods retweeted the post last night, adding: “Whoops” with two shrugging-shoulder emojis.

The former world No.1 has not played on the Tour since The Masters in November 2020 and has yet to set a return date after his serious car crash last February.

Woods, 46, made headlines when he competed at the PNC Championship in Florida with his son Charlie last December.

The PIP announcement is another embarrassment for Mickelson, who has been rapidly losing sponsors since admitting he was using his Saudi links to “leverage” Tour concessions.

Speaking ahead of today’s Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida, McIlroy said: “It is unfortunate. Phil has been a wonderful ambassador for the game of golf, still is a wonderful ambassador.

“We should be allowed to make mistakes and we should be allowed to ask for forgiveness, and for people to forgive us and move on.

“Hopefully, he comes back at some stage – and he will – and people will welcome him back and be glad that he is back.” The Bay Hill event, where world No.1 Jon Rahm is favourite, starts a run of big events before The Masters on April 7.

McIlroy, who will be making an eighth attempt to complete a career Grand Slam of Major wins at Augusta, is taking a relaxed approach to his preparations.

“I used to go on scouting missions and go for prep. Now I usually just go for the wine,” said the world No.5.

“They’ve got a nice wine cellar there. I might go up there for a night or two and have a little look around, but I haven’t made any plans yet.”