Tour News

Woods, Mickelson paired together in Napa: How will Tiger do?

Published

10 years ago

Oct 9, 2016

Although the PGA Tour won’t release pairings until Thursday, a source told the San Francisco Chronicle’s Ron Kroichick that Tiger Woods will be paired with his old nemesis Phil Mickelson.

Of course, we use “old” here to connote that the two used to have much more of a rivalry than they do presently. The two were pretty chummy at the Ryder Cup, which is something you wouldn’t have expected a decade ago.

“I’m hoping we can get paired together,” Mickelson told ESPN.com when he heard Woods planned to play in the event. “That would be really fun. I would love it.”

According to Kroichick, the Woods-Mickelson group will likely tee off late Thursday and early Friday so Golf Channel can cover Woods’ return to professional golf in its entirety.

Woods confirmed Friday that he’ll make his return to the PGA Tour at the Safeway Open after sitting out the 2015-2016 season recovering from a pair of back surgeries. His last PGA Tour event came more than 400 days ago at the Wyndham Championship in August of 2015, where he finished tied for 10th.

Regarding what we can expect from the one-time world No. 1, Golf.com conducted a Twitter poll. Forty percent of the more than 3,500 respondents think Woods will miss the cut in California.

On that subject, we wondered what GolfWRXers see in their crystal balls for Woods.

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And a second question: Who has the better finish, Woods or Mickelson?

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And a final tidbit: Kroichick also reported that Woods will be paired with Stephen Curry in his Wednesday pro-am.

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It’s official: Tiger Woods commits to next week’s Safeway Open

Ben Alberstadt

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

28 Comments

Tony Rich

Oct 11, 2016 at 12:25 am

WD……really a sad way to start his comeback. I’m a big
TW fan, and he fell victim to our golf TMZ (TGC) yearning for his commitment. Tiger should have taken the time and never signed up, his short game is not ready. Hopefully 2017 is better for you TW. Keep ur head up.

Reply Report comment
Uncle Buclk

Oct 11, 2016 at 12:24 am

How dem words taste Carolyn? Want to buy a vowel? I have a bib if you need one?!

Reply Report comment
JThunder

Oct 10, 2016 at 3:12 pm

So, for those who voted “Win”: Oops.

Reply Report comment
- COGolfer
  
  Oct 10, 2016 at 10:29 pm
  
  Swing and a miss…
  
  WD before first round needs to be an option next time.
  
  Reply Report comment
Clemson Sucks

Oct 10, 2016 at 2:03 pm

Has already withdrawn lol

Reply Report comment
ooffa

Oct 10, 2016 at 1:27 pm

Phil will try and make a bet with him, and Tiger will quit after one bad shot.

Reply Report comment
Jamie Grubbs

Oct 10, 2016 at 1:05 pm

I’ll be there! With bells on!

Reply Report comment
- Joslyn James
  
  Oct 10, 2016 at 1:07 pm
  
  Me too! With tassels on!
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Jim
    
    Oct 10, 2016 at 10:10 pm
    
    …don’t bother….he never tips…
    
    Reply Report comment
Bill Brasky

Oct 10, 2016 at 11:29 am

I’m shocked that Tiger is playing the Turkish Airlines. Rory is in that and if they get paired together, Tiger will swing out of his shoes to keep up with Rory (who will kick Tigers teeth in like always ).

Reply Report comment
- Hiding
  
  Oct 10, 2016 at 12:20 pm
  
  He’s getting millions in appearance fees. Why wouldn’t he? The rest of his life will be about those appearances. Not about competing.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Bill Brasky
    
    Oct 10, 2016 at 2:09 pm
    
    He will withdraw. He won’t be able stomach Rory crushing him by 30shots. Tiger came back early to get attention off of Rory in 2014 and got curb stomped at the Open and PGA.
    
    Reply Report comment
JThunder

Oct 9, 2016 at 9:45 pm

There is more to golf than Tiger Woods. There always has been and always will be.

The golf industry only does itself harm in its over-glorification of Woods; if they put half the effort into promoting and celebrating the champions who have emerged besides Tiger, they would improve non-Tiger ratings and interest. The constant talk of how badly they “need” Tiger is a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you officially tell the world that golf isn’t interesting without Tiger, they will believe you!

Reply Report comment
- Boyo
  
  Oct 10, 2016 at 9:55 am
  
  blah blah blah blah
  
  Reply Report comment
- C
  
  Oct 10, 2016 at 10:18 am
  
  This week’s tournament director was on PGA Tour Radio last week and said ticket sales were up over 3x compared to last year’s event. They had to bring in hundreds more volunteers…Tiger earned the glorification he receives today and it is evident that is still relevant. Apart from the “is he gonna play the Masters, US Open, etc.” I haven’t heard any media outlet say golf needs Tiger. Contrarily, I’ve heard more say that golf is in a great place without him because of the guys who have stepped up in his absence, but why not allow it to be even more exciting with him back?
  
  Reply Report comment
- Scott
  
  Oct 10, 2016 at 10:21 am
  
  Tons of people followed Arnold Palmer around in his later years when he was shooting 80s or 90s with no chance of winning. The same with Jack. People are always going to want to watch Tiger because he set the needle of how a great player is supposed to dominate. I am not a Tiger fan, but golf is more interesting with him than without. That is the truth, not a perception – regardless of what he shoots.
  
  People are hooked on member berries. Member how exciting it was to see Tiger win on one leg, member, member? Member tiger hitting the 6 iron out of the trap at the Canadian Open….
  
  Reply Report comment
- Jim
  
  Oct 10, 2016 at 2:51 pm
  
  agreed. He did his thing & God Bless …next!….
  
  Reply Report comment
Carolyn Michaels

Oct 9, 2016 at 9:12 pm

I am excited to see Tiger play again. Hoping he does well and he is in the best form that he has been in years. Looking for fist pumps, cheers, birdies and roars from the crowd. Rooting for you Tiger! !

Reply Report comment
Tiny Hall

Oct 9, 2016 at 8:50 pm

I’ve always been a fan, and remain a fan. The best of luck to the best of golfers. I’ll be
Watching.

Reply Report comment
Monte Good

Oct 9, 2016 at 8:38 pm

Bla bla bla

Reply Report comment
Tr

Oct 9, 2016 at 6:15 pm

They’ll set up the course nice and easy, remove red stakes, mow the rough down and no OB and free drop everywhere, and pins in easy flat parts of greens. Of course, then everybody else should be able to score well too, but hey at least it won’t make Eldrick look like the hack he is by giving him ways to get out of trouble

Reply Report comment
- ND Hickman
  
  Oct 9, 2016 at 6:34 pm
  
  “The hack he is”? Won a lot of majors in your time, have you?
  
  Reply Report comment
  - MBU
    
    Oct 10, 2016 at 2:50 pm
    
    Yeah, you tell him!
    
    Reply Report comment
- Carolyn Michaels
  
  Oct 9, 2016 at 9:07 pm
  
  Can’t wait to see you eat your words.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Tr
    
    Oct 11, 2016 at 2:27 am
    
    Ate your words, eh, lady Carolyn? Awwww what a shame. Here’s a hankie. Not!
    
    Reply Report comment
- Boyo
  
  Oct 10, 2016 at 9:55 am
  
  You mean like the Ryder Cup?
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Hiding
    
    Oct 10, 2016 at 12:22 pm
    
    Exactly, Boyo
    
    Reply Report comment
Uncle Buclk

Oct 9, 2016 at 5:28 pm

So what!! Wake me up after he breaks 69!

Reply Report comment

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 PGA Championship

Published

2 days ago

May 11, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

GolfWRX is on site for the second major of 2026: The PGA Championship from Aronimink in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.

The tournament’s location, just outside Philadelphia, and its status as a major championship mean GolfWRXers are in for a treat: WITBs from a strong field, custom gear celebrating the PGA Championship, and the rich culture of the City of Brotherly Love — we have noted a relative absence of cheesesteak-themed items thus far this week, but most of the rest of the usual suspects are well represented.

Check out links to all our photos below.