News
The Tiger Woods vs. Phil Mickelson $10 million match is set for Thanksgiving weekend
Just a day after Tiger Woods’ agent, Mark Steinberg, told ESPN “we are closer than we have been” to finalizing the $10 million winner-take-all money match between his client and Phil Mickelson, it looks like the deal is done.
According to ESPN’s Mike Greenberg, Tiger and Phil will square off at Shadow Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas either Friday (Nov. 23) or Saturday (Nov. 24) of Thanksgiving weekend.
Woods and Mickelson played a nine-hole practice round Wednesday at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
Mickelson floated the idea of the match at The Players in May.
“The excitement that’s been going on around here, it gets me thinking: Why don’t we just bypass all the ancillary stuff of a tournament and just go head-to-head and just have kind of a high-stakes, winner-take-all match…Now, I don’t know if he wants a piece of me, but I just think it would be something that would be really fun for us to do, and I think there would be a lot of interest in it if we just went straight to the final round.”
Perhaps surprisingly/why the heck not, Woods responded with, “I’m definitely not against that. We’ll play for whatever makes him uncomfortable.”
With respect to just how uncomfortable, the pair will be competing for roughly one quarter of their annual pay. According to Forbes, Woods pocketed $43.3 million in on/off course earnings in 2018. Mickelson banked $41.3 million.
With everything falling into place, the only question now is who’s your money on, WRXers?
I’m going to gush in this intro paragraph, to get the emo stuff done early. I’ve not pulled harder for a professional to win, than Cameron Young. I coach golf in New York state, and each spring, my best golfers head to a state championship in Poughkeepsie. I first saw Cameron there as a 9th grade student. I saw him three more times after that. I reconnecected with Coach Haas from Wake Forest, an old interview subject from my days on the Old Gold and Black, the Wake newspaper. He was there to watch Cameron. After four years at Wake Forest, Young won on the Korn Ferry Tour, made it to the big tour, almost won two majors, almost won five other events, and finally got the chalice about 25 minutes from the Wake campus. Congratulations, Cameron. You truly are a glass of the finest. #MotherSoDear
OK, let’s move on to the Tour Rundown. The major championship season closed this week in Wales, with the Women’s Open championship. The PGA Tour bounced through Greensboror, N.C., while the PGA Tour Americas hit TO (aka, Toronto) for a long-winded event. The Korn Ferry lads made a stop in Utah, one of just two events for that tour in August. The many-events, golf season is winding down, as we ease from summer toward fall in the northern hemisphere. Let’s bask in the glory of an August sunrise, and run down a quartet of events from the first weekend of the eighth month.
LET/LPGA @ Women’s Open: Miyu bends, but she doesn’t break
Royal Porthcawl was not a known commodity in the major tournament community. The Welsh links had served as host to men’s senior opens, men’s amateurs, and Curtis and Walker Cups in prior years, but never an Open championship for the women or the men. The last-kept secret in UK golf was revealed once again to the world this week, as the best female golfers took to the sandy stage.
Mao Saigo, Grace Kim, Maja Stark, and Minjee Lee hoped to add a second major title to previous wins this season, but only Lee was able to finish inside the top ten. The 2025 playing of the Women’s Open gave us a new-faces gallery from day one. The Kordas and Thitikulls were nowhere to be found, and it was the Mayashitas, Katsus, and Lim Kims that secured the Cymru spotlight. The first round lead was held at 67 by two golfers. One of them battled to the end, while the other posted 81 on day two, and missed the cut. Sitting one shot behind was Miyu Yamashita.
On day two, Yamashita posted the round of the tournament. Her 65 moved her to the front of the aisle, in just her fourth turn around a women’s Open championship. With the pre-event favorites drifting off pace, followers narrowed into two camps: those on the side of an underdog, and others hoping for a weekend charge from back in the pack. In the end, we had a bit of both.
On Saturday, Yamashita bent with 74 on Saturday, offering rays of hope to her pursuing pack. England’s Charley Hull made a run on Sunday closing within one shot before tailing off to a T2 finish with Minami Katsu. Katsu posted the other 65 of the week, on Saturday, but could not overtake her countrywoman, Yamashita. wunderkind Lottie Woad needed one round in the 60s to find her pace, but could only must close-to’s, ending on 284 and a tie with Minjee for eighth.
On Sunday, Yamashita put away the thoughts of Saturday’s struggles, with three-under 33 on the outward half. She closed in plus-one 37, but still won by two, for a first Major and LPGA title.
PGA Tour @ Wyndham: Young gathers first title near home
Cameron Young grew up along the Hudson river, above metro New York, but he also calls Winston-Salem home. He spent four years as a student and athlete at Wake Forest University, then embarked on tour. This week in Greensboro, after a bit of a break, Young opened with 63-62, and revved the engine of Is this the week once more. Runner-up finishes at the Open, the PGA, and a handful of PGA Tour events had followers wonder when the day would come.
On Saturday, Young continued his torrid pace with 65, giving him a five-shot advantage over his closest pursuer. Sunday saw the Scarborough native open with bogey, then reel off five consecutive birdies to remind folks that his time had, at last, arrived. Pars to the 16th, before two harmless bogeys coming home, made Young the 1000th winner of an official PGA Tour event (dating back to before there was a PGA Tour) throughout history. What’s next? I have a suspicion, but I’m not letting on. Mac Meissner closed with 66 to finish solo 2nd, while Mark Hubbard and Alex Noren tied for third.
Korn Ferry Tour @ Utah Championship: Are you Suri it’s Julian?
Who knows exactly when the flower will bloom? Julian Suri played a solid careet at Duke University, then paid his dues on the world’s minor tours for three years. He won twice on two tours in Europe, in 2017. Since then, the grind has continued for the journeyman from New York city. At age 34, Suri broke through in Beehive state, outlasting another grinder (Spencer Levin) and four others, by two shots.
Taylor Montgomery began the week with 62, then posted 64, then 68, and finally, 70. That final round was his undoing. He finished in that second-place tie, two back of the leader. Trace Crowe, Barend Botha, and Kensei Hirata made up the last of the almost quintet. As for Suri, his Sunday play was sublime. His nines were 32 and 31, with his only radar blip a bogey at ten. He closed in style with one final birdie, to double his winning margin. Hogan bloomed late…might Suri?
PGA Tour Americas @ Osprey Valley Open presented by Votorantim Cimentos – CBM Aggregates
Some tournament names run longer than others. This week in Toronto, at the Heathlands course at TPC Toronto, we might have seen the longest tournament title in recorded history. The OVOPBVCCBMA was a splendid affair. It saw three rounds of 62 on Thursday, but of those early risers, only Drew Goodman would stick around until the end. 64 was the low tally on day two, and two of those legionnaires managed to finish inside the top three at week’s end. Saturday brought a 63 from Patrick Newcomb, and he would follow with 64 on Sunday, to finish solo fourth.
Who, then, ended up winning the acronym of the year? It turns out that Carson Bacha had the right stuff in TeeOhhh. Bacha and Jay Card III posted 63 and 64, respectively, on day four, to tie for medalist honors at 23-under 261. Nathan Franks was one shot adrift, despite also closing with 63. If you didn’t go low on Sunday, it was about the check, not the championship.
Bacha and JC3 returned to the 18th hole twice in overtime. Card nearly chipped in from the thick stuff for birdie, while Bacha peeked and shoved a ten-feet attempt at the win. On the second go-round, Card was long with his approach, into the native grasses once more. He was unable to escape, and a routine par from the fairway was enough to earn the former Auburn golfers a first KFT title.
Card III and Bacha both miss their birdie tries on the first playoff hole.
We’ll play 18 again @OspreyOpen. pic.twitter.com/vNpHTdkHDg
— PGA TOUR Americas (@PGATOURAmericas) August 3, 2025
GolfWRX is live this week from the final event of the PGA Tour’s regular season, the Wyndham Championship.
Photos are flowing into the forums from Sedgefield Country Club, where we already have a GolfWRX spirit animal Adam Schenk WITB and plenty of putters for your viewing pleasure.
Check out links to all our photos below, which we’ll continue to update as more arrive.
General Albums
- 2025 Wyndham Championship – Tuesday #1
- 2025 Wyndham Championship – Tuesday #2
- 2025 Wyndham Championship – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Scotty Kennon – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Austin Duncan – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Will Chandler – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Kevin Roy – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Ben Griffin – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Peter Malnati – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Ryan Gerard – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Adam Schenk – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Kurt Kitayama – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Camilo Villegas – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Matti Schmid – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
Pullout Albums
- Denny McCarthy’s custom Cameron putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Swag Golf putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Karl Vilips TM MG5 wedges – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- New Bettinardi putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Matt Fitzpatrick’s custom Bettinardi putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Cameron putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
Kurt Kitayama just won his 2nd PGA Tour event at the 3M Open. Kurt is a Bridgestone staffer but with just the ball and bag. Here are the rest of the clubs he used to secure a win at the 2025 3M Open.
Driver: Titleist GT3 (11 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF 7 TX
3-wood: Titleist GT1 3Tour (14.5 degrees, A3 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 TX
7-wood: Titleist GT1 (21 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 9 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P7CB (4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-12F, 56-14F), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Style Newport 2 Tour Prototype
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy 1.0PT
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Bridgestone Tour B XS (with Mindset)
‘Why would anybody want to change that swing?’ – Brandel Chamblee says PGA Tour star was wrong to change his swing
‘The stupidest freaking thing I’ve ever heard’ – Billy Horschel slams Open idea suggested by Padraig Harrington
WITB Time Machine: Brandt Snedeker’s winning WITB, 2018 Wyndham Championship
Golfer proudly posts photo of ball mark on iron, receives immediate roasting
WITB Time Machine: Matthew Wolff’s winning WITB, 2019 3M Open
Oakmont Country Club bans Wyndham Clark over locker incident; Reveals specific conditions to earn reinstatement
Adam Scott puts Callaway blades in the bag at Wyndham Championship
Report: LIV star fires caddie and coach in shock shake up
Rickie Fowler makes equipment change to ‘something that’s a little easier on the body’
The championship formula: How 3 key stats separate winners from the field
Peter Malnati WITB 2025 (August)
Peter Malnati what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver: Titleist...
Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2025 Wyndham Championship
Driver: Titleist GT2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting) Buy here. Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro Orange 70 TX 3-wood: Titleist...
Camilo Villegas WITB 2025 (July)
Camilo Villegas WITB accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. Villegas was undecided on a 3-wood when we shot his bag. ...
WITB Time Machine: Brandt Snedeker’s winning WITB, 2018 Wyndham Championship
Brandt Snedeker fired a final-round 65 at the 2018 Wyndham Championship to outlast Webb Simpson and C.T. Pan. His 5-under...
RocketBall
Sep 17, 2018 at 1:30 am
FANTASTIC idea. I’ll definitely watch it on PPV. My money is on Tiger. I say he smokes Phil 4 and 3.
Bank
Aug 21, 2018 at 8:26 am
this match is about 10 years too late. Lord who cares. a lot less than 10 years ago. I’m a decade older than these guys and I dont even want to see them. these guys dont need 10 million so its borderline aggravating. Theres nothing in this of interest. Make it a carry over skins game at least. An 8 million dollar hole i could watch- for a minute or two. As long as I had about 3 other screens going with actual entertainment. Match play is excruciatingly slow.
Speedy
Aug 21, 2018 at 1:45 pm
Right on, Bank. I’ll have no problem finding something else to do.
Tom
Aug 10, 2018 at 4:21 pm
It would be great if they had a TV channel that just showed and talked about Tiger 24/7….oh, they already do, but they call it the Golf Channel.
Sean
Aug 8, 2018 at 7:50 pm
This is the solution to the Tiger vs. Phil match:
http://www.therivalroast.com
Alan
Aug 4, 2018 at 4:04 pm
Bunch of bitter people making the negative comments today. Don’t like it don’t watch.
I’m sure you would rather hang out with drunk Uncle Ed Thanksgiving weekend.
Dixie doc
Aug 3, 2018 at 10:57 pm
I hope there’s a football game on that day. At least those teams will be playing for something.
Liberty Apples
Aug 3, 2018 at 9:36 pm
Does anyone really give a (fill in the blank)?
Dave
Aug 3, 2018 at 9:23 pm
” Really ” you go girls.
Steve M
Aug 3, 2018 at 5:54 pm
Not only are they not putting up any of their own money I bet they both ask for an appearance fee, so it won’t even be winner takes all
Tom
Aug 3, 2018 at 5:27 pm
Both from California how about donating that 10 million to California Public Golf courses so we will still have a few in 2019….
Jim McPherson
Aug 3, 2018 at 3:13 pm
I bet DJ would put up $10M of his own money to join in and make it a $20M winner take all.
But as the winners prize isn’t coming from either of them, it is meaningless and will suck. There will be no fight in it. My guess is it will be staged so it comes down to the wire, probably back and forth throughout the round and decided on the final hole. Bet on that!
Dtrain
Aug 3, 2018 at 2:03 pm
So even if Tiger loses it will be far from the worst Thanksgiving he’s had.
Rich
Aug 3, 2018 at 7:07 pm
Wins the internet today!
Regis
Aug 3, 2018 at 1:21 pm
As I sit here now I can say “No way I’ll watch it”. But I probably will. For how long? This will be hyperhyped like Riggs/King. My problem (if I do watch) is Who to root for (or more properly against). I can’t stand either of them. Like to see a prop bet. Over/under on photos of Tiger with his kids or Phil with lemonade stands
Curt
Aug 3, 2018 at 12:24 pm
It means absolute nothing if its NOT their own money to lose. I could care less about two guys playing for OPM.
Bob
Aug 3, 2018 at 1:36 pm
Totally agree
Roy
Aug 3, 2018 at 3:14 pm
But a bunch of people playing for OPM is interesting?? Or is the only event you watch all year the US Am??
Keith
Aug 3, 2018 at 12:16 pm
I live about 400 yards north of Shadow Creek in LV so I am intrigued. I wonder if it will be open to the public.
Steve Cantwell
Aug 3, 2018 at 11:35 am
I’d bet ( but not with my own money, of course) that this event will prove to be an uninspiring flop. Not to mention, horrible television as there will be too many commercials in between shots.
Ev
Aug 22, 2018 at 7:54 pm
No commercials. Ppv
G what
Aug 3, 2018 at 12:29 am
Make it $10MM if their own money
MT
Aug 2, 2018 at 11:06 pm
All the sticks in the mud complaining about this. Let them play and I for one will be watching. Hope the 10 million goes to a great charity like St Jude’s.
Waaa
Aug 2, 2018 at 6:04 pm
Most of the proceeds are going to charity.
ComeonPhil
Aug 2, 2018 at 3:17 pm
Usually when Phil fires off his mouth he misses the cut. It amazes me that Tiger with all his injuries and surgeries and limited playing time will still shoot lower scores than Phil. What amazes me about Phil is how inconsistent he is…..It is also surprising how many times Phil has choked despite having so many victories. I think that if you add just his second place finishes to his number of major victories he would have 15 majors. It is not only amazing that Phil is first in putting on tour this year, but also that he has only one win with that great putting and that when I watch him putt his putting still looks like it sucks.
Jason A
Aug 2, 2018 at 2:03 pm
bunch of salty old people in this comment area. i think this is great and is going to create a lot of buzz for golf.
Jamie
Aug 2, 2018 at 2:00 pm
It’s all freshly printed toilet paper backed by nothing but the cannon-fodder military.
Tyler Durden
Aug 2, 2018 at 12:57 pm
Great, an addict and a cheat playing for other people money. Must see tv.
Tartan Golf Travel
Aug 2, 2018 at 12:57 pm
They should have added 2 more players and brought back the old skins game. This sounds boring, May be would have been interesting when they were the best in the world but 2 guys head to head will make for boring golf.
toyzrx
Aug 2, 2018 at 12:53 pm
Lame. There are kids in many cities who don’t have food to eat and books to read.
Erik
Aug 2, 2018 at 1:44 pm
So feed them and house them
DANA POINT
Aug 3, 2018 at 2:28 am
Good point. We should shut down the entertainment and sports industries entirely until we rectify that situation. No movies, no music, no superbowls and playoffs…just stop it all until no one is hungry, because they’re obviously linked.
Moses
Aug 2, 2018 at 12:17 pm
Silly Season is back. Can we revive the Skins Game too.
dat
Aug 2, 2018 at 11:28 am
Who is bankrolling this?
Erik
Aug 2, 2018 at 1:45 pm
Well with Phil’s love of gambling , I would imagine they are
~j~
Aug 2, 2018 at 6:50 pm
Yeah right. Neither is putting up a dime that i know of. Lame. Anyone can wager with other people’s money. Let’s see Phil grip it and rip it with HIS $10mil on the line.
Kevin
Aug 2, 2018 at 11:23 am
unless they put their own money on the line, this is just a friendly game with the chance to win a lot of money. its like putting a bunch of money on black at the roulette table without having to actually bet any of your own money
PT
Aug 2, 2018 at 12:26 pm
No, it isn’t. Clearly.
Michael
Aug 2, 2018 at 12:29 pm
Agree. When I first heard this idea, I thought that’s what it would be, a high stakes gambling round on TV, and I was very excited. There’s zero drama unless they put up their own money. Bogus. I’m not interested.