Mickelson wanders up to the green... he fancies holing this. It's good from Leftie... but it's not right. Both players are about the same distance away. Gimmes?

There's a bit of a standoff as both players mark and replace their balls before the other tells him to pick it up. Birdies apiece and Phil still leads.

"Heck of a shot you hit there," says Mickelson.

"Thanks bud!"

Woods knocks his second shot out of the rough on to the edge of the fairway, while Mickelson is on the bank of a bunker to the right of the green. Not a great stance for Leftie...

Tiger sticking one close from here would ramp up the pressure on his great rival. About 110 yards out, sand wedge in hand... perfect. A hop, a skip and a check leaves within a few feet of a birdie. We've seen him do that before...

Problem is we've not heard any trash talking or 'banter' between the pair yet. Hearing the players talk to their caddies is quite interesting - Mickelson talking about wanting to whistle a two-iron towards the fourth green - although we do get to hear a bit of that anyway nowadays.

Image source, Getty Images

Not all pros agree with Pepperell though...

England's Eddie Pepperell was even more vocal in his assessment of tonight's match, calling it a "putrid attempt at attention" and labelling it "pathetic".

And that wasn't all...

"Tiger vs Phil is like Mayweather vs McGregor," he tweeted.

"Except on their day, there are 100 golfers who *could* beat Tiger/Phil. Not true of Boxing. When fewer people swallow bigger portions of the pie, inequality beckons."

Image source, Getty Images

On to the fourth then. The first par-five of the round. Still no side-bets being wagered by either man.

Mickelson spanks his tee-shot on to the fairway, close to the water running down the left of the hole. Woods knocks his somewhere he doesn't want to be. It's dry though. Off to the right somewhere.

Tiger's microphone has largely been picking up heavy sighs....

Shane Daly: This is solely a cash grab. I'm gona say this first, next year Connor McGregor will challenge Tiger Woods to a round of golf. What's next? A two car battle Formula 1 race? Stirling Moss vs Jackie Stewart?

Adam Jones: Everyone getting upset about #thematch, what's the difference between this an a tennis / snooker exhibition? Nice to see something different and more relaxed!

He said he wasn't watching!!

Woods chips on to about the same distance as that one he missed on the last. Mickelson two putts and, obviously, makes Tiger hole out...

Oooh! Woods' ball has a good look at the hole, circling around the lip before dropping.

We've just seen a replay of Mickelson talking to his brother Tim on the way to the third tee.

"I was half a second away from giving him that putt," says Leftie.

He'll be glad he didn't now...

Woods, mid-iron in hand, punches his second shot under the branches towards the dancefloor. The sort of shot where you or I (presuming you're also an average golfer) would be ducking for cover after it pinged the tree.

Mickelson is on the fairway and casually knocks into the heart of the green.

Image source, Getty Images

While Woods and Mickelson are the biggest names of their generation - and still are, judging by the fact they raked in more cash last year than any other golfers - it doesn't sound like their young rivals will flicking over on the remote.

"Look, if they had done it 15 years ago it would have been great," Rory McIlroy says. "But nowadays, it has missed the mark a little bit."

Fellow American Justin Thomas reckons he won't be paying the $19.99 subscription fee to watch: "Love TW and Phil to death, but there's a zero percent chance I order that. I'll be watching football!"

And Jon Rahm feels the match is "10 years too late", adding: "Maybe when they were both in their prime it would have been extremely amazing."

"I've never seen him miss one of those," Mickelson says after seeing Woods miss that putt on the second.

The on-screen betting odds suddenly dip in Leftie's favour. Even more so when Tiger pushes his drive on the third right, on a bank and behind a tree...

Image source, Getty Images

Iain Hagger: Personally loving that #thematch, external has got some people’s backs up. High time golf poked its head above the parapet and did something a bit different.

David Campbell: Top golfers play in Ryder Cup and receive no money. These two washed out "legends"....playing for $7m?? Do me a favour and give it all to youth development.

I think Twitter has just collapsed under the number of Mickelson dancing GIFS...

Mickelson has a tricky par putt back up the hill... easy peasy.

This should be a formality for Woods from four feet.... he's lipped it! Unbelievable. His ball clips the right edge, threatens to be sucked and then fights for his life to stay above ground.

Advantage Mickelson!

Actually, Mickelson is just off the fringe and has to knock on too.

Both men, who have 19 majors between them remember, chip on like I would down at my local municipal. That's not a compliment believe me...

Philip Sui: I'd be quite happy for Tiger to win this 10 & 8 and then we can all hit the sack.

Rivs: What an absolute farce which brings the game into disrepute. Reprehensible behaviour from the two of them. Why? What for? Meaningless. Both of them have tarnished their reputations, this emphasises it more. Show ponies, the game is bigger than them.

Mickelson first into the green... "Hold!" shouts Leftie. It does, just about, leaving him with a seven foot putt (ish) from the fringe.

Woods's approach doesn't stick. He's grabbing the wedge out of his bag...

Image source, Reuters

On to the second... a par four, 430 yards, hole cuts away to the right. Bread and butter fairway iron and short iron in.

Job done for both men. Let's hear what chat they've got... ooops. Phil's dropped a swear bomb already. I feel the American commentators are going to be doing a lot of apologising...

Image source, Reuters