Mickelson is renowned for his golf ability and his quick witCredit: Getty
Phil Mickelson may be one of the greats of the game, but he has often proved to be an equally adept comedian as well.
But instead of a microphone at the stand-up comedy night, Mickelson had the crowd – and Tiger Woods – in stitches at the 2002 Tour Championship.
The pair had enjoyed recent success in the event, with Mickelson winning it in 2000 and Woods doing the same a year earlier.
So when Mickelson and Woods were paired together for the tournament at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, it’s no wonder the bulk of attendees followed the duo across the course like a herd of sheep.
But they didn’t even need to see either man take his tee shot on the first hole to be guaranteed entertainment.
As Woods stepped up to get his round underway, the announcer introduced him like he was a world champion boxer.
“Winner of 34 PGA Tour events, including the 2002 Masters tournament, the US Open, the Bay Hill Invitational, the Buick Open, and the American Express World Golf Championship,” the announcer said.
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But before she could continue rattling off Woods’ other golfing conquests, Mickelson saw an opportunity to cheekily interject.
“Alright, alright. We know,” Mickelson said.
The audience immediately burst into laughter as Mickelson said what was no doubt on all of their minds.
Mickelson’s quick-witted remark also drew a beaming smile and laugh from Woods.
Unfortunately that was the highlight of the tournament for both men, as Woods finished T7 with a score of four-under-par while Mickelson finished one stroke ahead and was T5 on the leaderboard.
Fijian icon Vijay Singh ultimately emerged victorious at East Lake that year on a score of 12-under-par.
Mickelson would go on to win the Tour Championship in 2009 while Woods won it two more times in 2007 and 2018.
The legendary pair would later share another hilarious moment during the second instalment of The Match in May 2020.
Woods and Mickelson were paired with legendary NFL quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Tom Brady respectively.
Mickelson’s ball had found itself off the left of the fairway and asked Woods, who sat comfortably in a golf cart, if he could mark his ball before taking his shot.
Woods said: “Do you want to use one of my U.S. Open medals?”
Mickelson responded: “Do you have one? Do you have any? I’ve got some silver ones, do you have any of the gold ones? Either one will work.”
Woods added: “I actually have three you can borrow.”
Woods’ medal jab was in reference to Mickelson’s role as a perennial U.S. Open bridesmaid, having finished runner-up at the event a staggering six times.
As for Woods, he is a three-time U.S. Open winner.
Although the two were jovial in previous years, their relationship took a hit when Mickelson revealed he would leave the PGA Tour and head to the rebel LIV Golf circuit in 2022.
Mickelson was a notable absence from the 2022 PGA Championship – a major he won the year earlier – after he confirmed his support for the Saudi-backed tour in a bid to ‘gain leverage’ over the PGA Tour.
Woods, who competed in the event that year, revealed he had not spoken to Mickelson in the wake of his controversial comments.
“It’s always disappointing when the defending champion is not here,” Woods said in 2022.
“Phil has said some things that I think a lot of us who are committed to the Tour and committed to the legacy of the Tour have pushed back against, and he’s taken some personal time, and we all understand that.
“I have not reached out to him. I have not spoken to him. A lot of it has not to do with I think personal issues. It was our viewpoints of how the Tour should be run and could be run, and what players are playing for and how we are playing for it. I have a completely different stance on, and so no, I have not.”
