Tiger Breaks His Silence On Potential Match With Phil Mickelson: "We're Trying To Make It Happen"

GOLF.com- Tiger Woods for the first time spoke publicly about the blockbuster made-for-TV match play event pitting him vs. Phil Mickelson with a $10 million payday on the line. GOLF.com first reported this story on July 6, with Mickelson saying negotiations couldn’t be completed in time for a desired July 3 date. Woods’s camp declined to comment for the story, but the 14-time major champ addressed the subject with a group of reporters on Sunday at Carnoustie, where he’ll play in the British Open for the first time in three years. “We are still working on it,” Woods said. “It’s not there yet, but certainly we are working on it and trying to make it happen.” Woods was also told that Patrick Reed said Woods and Mickelson should use their own money for the event. “Well, of course that’s what he would like to see,” Woods said, smiling. “I would like to see him put up that money.” Mickelson, speaking to GOLF.com in the initial story, said the $10 million would make anyone uncomfortable.

This makes me feel better. Up until this point it had been all Phil Mickelson doing all the talking about the 10 million dollar match. You could’ve told me Phil was making up the whole thing in hopes to goad Tiger into taking the be bait and I would’ve believed. Luckily that’s not the case and it sounds like things are progressing nicely. Solid little chirp outta Tiger aimed at Patrick Reed. Yeah no shit everybody wants to see Tiger and Phil put ip their own money but why would they when sponsors are gonna be more than happy to put up the cash? I get that it would give the match higher stakes but beggars can’t be choosers. We’re potentially getting a match between two of the greatest golfers ever. That’s pretty cool.

I’m still sorta in the camp that Tiger shouldn’t play the match at all. I want the match to happen for sure. I’m not saying I don’t want Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson to square off with 10 million dollars on the line. Every sports fans and probably non-sports fan wants to see it happen. I’m just not sure if I’d do it if I were Tiger. Again, Tiger has nothing to prove. No one on the face of the Earth thinks Phil Mickelson is a better golfer than Tiger Woods. The match obviously wouldn’t be the be-all and end-all in terms of who’s better but if Phil wins he can be like, “Yeah you’ve got a million more majors than me but remember that time I beat you straight up?” and that will drive Tiger crazy. It’s just something to think about. They should still do it.