Phil Mickelson beats Tiger Woods in The Match

Summary

Mickelson wins after closely-fought match goes to 22nd hole
American received $9m (£7m) in prize money
Woods and Mickleson have won 19 majors between them
Took place at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas

Live Reporting

Jonathan Jurejko

The circle of life?published at 20:28 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2018
As if this whole thing couldn't get more barmy... Nick Faldo offers his opinion by quoting Elton John's soundtrack to The Lion King...
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Mickelson misses birdie puttpublished at 20:27 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2018
Mickelson v Woods A/S (1)
Mickelson's brother is on his bag and the pair come to the conclusion there is a touch of break. There isn't.
Phil's putt doesn't move off line and stays up.
"That hurts the pocket!" laughs Tiger.
Mickelson might want to reach for his banking app - he's transferring $200,000 to Tiger's charity of choice.
Image source, Getty Images
Postpublished at 20:24 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2018
"Dammit," chunters Tiger. "It didn't break." Woods is still huffing and puffing after missing that birdie putt.
Mickelson for birdie... $200,000... and the lead...
Get involvedpublished at 20:23 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2018
#bbcgolf
Ged Ashton: Let's hope Woods and Mickleson give people watching it value for money and we have a thriller on standby.
Atholl: Why are you bothering with this farce?
DJ: A sad day for sport.
Postpublished at 20:21 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2018
Woods to approach first, he's just on the first cut to the right of the fairway... about 12 feet short of the pin. Mickelson... just inside him.
"Nice shot," says Phil. "You too," replies Tiger.
Cordial.
Image source, Getty Images
Postpublished at 20:20 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2018
Our first listen into the pair as they wander down the fairway. How cool Samuel L Jackson is, a bit about the weather... small talk at its finest.
Where's the beer cart? A few cold ones will loosen them up...
Image source, Getty Images
Postpublished at 20:18 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2018
During the round Mickelson and Woods will challenge each other with side bets - for example, nearest the pin or longest drive - with the money reportedly going to charity.
The bravado started at Tuesday's news conference when Mickelson laid down a $100,000 (£77,600) wager that Woods would not birdie the first hole. Woods told him to double it to $200,000 (£155,200).
Well, Phil is in position A...
What's different?published at 20:17 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2018
- Woods and Mickelson laying on side bets during the match
- No spectators allowed on the course
- Only way to watch in the US is paying for $19.99 (£15.50) commercial-free coverage
- Both players and their caddies wearing microphones
- Real-time betting odds, statistics and probabilities displayed on the screen
Image source, Getty Images
Postpublished at 20:17 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2018
Hollywood star Samuel L Jackson, wearing a natty checked hat, introduces the pair onto the tee. He's no Ivor Robson...
Phil Mickelson won the toss and chose to have the honour.... he already told us he was going to use a two-iron and knocks it down the middle on the 479-yard par four which doglegs to left.
Tiger follows him and the pair stroll down the fairway together chewing the fat...
Image source, Getty Images
Postpublished at 20:13 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2018
Tiger Woods: "I think we've gotten to know each other over the last few years. We've gone from not really knowing each other to knowing each other very well, we have a lot of likes and dislikes in common."
Phil Mickelson: "The tough thing when playing Tiger is you get into his game and know what he's doing.
"I've got to block that out and make putts and make birdies. Tiger is intimidating for people because they watch his game. I need to block that out and focus on myself."
Postpublished at 20:13 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2018
Here they are! Both men are all smiles as they have a quick word with a television interviewer on the first tee....
Image source, Getty Images
A UK-US divide?published at 20:10 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2018
American golf writer Alex Myers reckons there is a trans-Atlantic split of general opinion...
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'I want to talk smack'published at 20:07 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2018
The boxing analogy I used earlier is relevant, actually, as Mickelson and Woods have been acting like a pair of cash-hungry fighters desperate to flog pay-per-view purchases.
Acting being the right word. Because, despite their best attempts at a boxing-style 'face-off', the pair were cracking up in a matter of seconds.
"I just don't want to lose to him and give him the satisfaction because the bragging rights are going to be even worse than the money," said Mickelson.
"Every time I see you I want to be able to rub it in. I want to sit in the champions' locker room at Augusta and talk smack. I want that."
Image source, Getty Images
Postpublished at 20:05 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2018
For what it's worth, I think it has got to be better than watching a slime-covered Harry Redknapp shoving kangaroo testicles into his mouth....
Get involvedpublished at 20:03 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2018
#bbcgolf
Before we head for the first tee, I want to know what you think.
Opinion has been completely divided over the merits of this match. The only thing everyone can agree on is golf has never seen anything like this before.
So... log into your Twitter account and send me 280 characters worth of opinion. You know the drill... #bbcgolf
Postpublished at 20:02 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2018
Hello! And welcome to our live coverage of 'The Match'.
The match? Which match? This match. A $9m (£7m) winner-takes-all showdown between the two finest golfers of their generation.
In the red corner... weighing in with 14 major titles... 80 PGA Tour wins... career earnings of almost £90m... TIGER WOODS!
In the black corner... weighing in with five major titles... 43 PGA Tour wins... career earnings of almost £70m... PHIL MICKELSON!
Image source, Getty Images
Postpublished at 20:00 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2018
An entertaining showdown between two of the game's all-time greats to settle a score which has rumbled on for more than two decades?
Image source, Getty Images
Or simply a crass cash generator for two ageing millionaires which leaves the sport looking desperate for attention?
Image source, Bleacher Report
Which side of the table are you on?