The two biggest names in golf over the last two decades Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson face off with $9 million at stake. The one-on-one game being called “The Match” is not only a must-see event, but also a must-bet one. Here’s your in-depth betting preview and picks ahead of the pay-per-view.
As the game's two premier players of the last 20 years, Woods and Mickelson will forever be linked with one another. However, a deep dive into their "rivalry" shows it's been a mostly one-sided affair. Woods owns career advantages in major titles (14-5) and tour victories (80-43). This feud is more like Tom Brady-Peyton Manning than Cristiano Ronaldo-Leonardo Messi.
Nonetheless, this is a match that needed to happen right now. Neither one is getting any younger, with Woods nearing 43 and Mickelson at 48. Calling them past their prime would be a stretch, though.
The Official World Golf rankings have Woods as the 13th best player in the world and Mickelson 26th. Both are in the midst of a career resurgence. Neither had won a PGA Tour event since 2013 until this year. Mickelson captured the WGC-Mexico Championship back in March, followed by Woods' dramatic win at the Tour Championship in September.
Bovada has Woods slotted as -250 favorite to win the exhibition, with Mickelson getting +175 odds. Here's everything you need to know ahead of the duel:
This will be contested under match-play rules. Points are awarded on a hole-by-hole basis. This differs from the standard stroke-play rules PGA tournaments are played under, which totals strokes throughout the duration of 18 holes.
The showdown will take place on Black Friday on November 23. The state-of-the-art Shadow Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas will host both world-class golfers and no fans will be present.
For those who want to watch, it'll be available on pay-per-view for $20 a pop. Both Woods and Mickelson will be mic'd up, so the live trash talk will set this apart from the usual TV tournaments.
Is Tiger back? Well, depends on what you consider "back?" Admittedly, he'll never return to his early to mid-2000s self — a stretch where he racked up an eye-popping 12 major championships. If we're being honest, there might not be another golfer that ever matches that dominance.
Regardless, this is the best Woods has played in ten years. During 2018, Woods led through 10 holes at the US Open, then finished runner-up at the FedEx Cup. It all culminated with a win at the Tour Championship. For a guy who has been through as much personal turmoil and injuries as Woods, this run has been sweet vindication.
On the other end, Mickelson has everything to gain, and almost nothing to lose. He's played in Woods shadow his entire career and enters as the underdog. If he wins, great. If he doesn't, no one will be surprised. That lack of pressure makes Mickelson a tantalizing option — but we're not biting.
Woods has had Phil's number his entire career. He's also playing better than Mickelson as of late. Playing under match-play rules also benefits Woods. One blown hole or screw up — which has unraveled Woods more than once recently — won't really matter. Expect Woods to become $9 million richer come Black Friday (as if need to add more to his career winnings of $115 million).
Pick: Woods (-250)
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
Category : News
More articles...What: Jaron Ennis vs. Eimantas Stanionis boxing bout Where: Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey When: Saturday, April 12 at 10 p.m. ET How to watch: DAZN Who's ready for an exciting matchup inside of the ring this weekend? Come Saturday night, there's an exciting matchup on the way between Jaron Ennis […]
What: The Masters When: April 10-13 Where: Augusta National in Augusta, Georgia How to watch: CBS Arguably the biggest and best golf tournament of the year is here. That's right, we're talking about The Masters, an event that golf fans can't wait to arrive every spring. Already, the course at Augusta is filled with people […]
What: 2025 NFL Draft Where: Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin When: April 24-26 How to watch: ESPN The calendar may read April, but there's no question that sports fans across the world have football on their mind. Wait, what? That's right, the NFL Draft is sneaking up on us and countless superstars are ready […]
