Could Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson meet at the Masters again?
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are trying to turn back the clock in 2018. Could they have a date at Augusta National next month?
Tiger Woods is 42 years old, and is all of three tournaments into his latest comeback attempt on the PGA TOUR. Phil Mickelson is 47. His win at last week’s WGC-Mexico Championship was his first anywhere since the 2013 Open Championship.
Could these two be heading towards one more showdown at the Masters Tournament? Betting money says yes – literally.
As of March 9th, 2018, OddsShark has Woods as a +1600 bet at Augusta National, with Mickelson coming in slightly ahead at +1400. For a reference marker on just how impressive that is, only four players have better money-line odds right now. Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth (+750) lead the way, followed by Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas, both at +1000.
Granted, these lines are fluid, and name recognition obviously doesn’t hurt. McIlroy, for instance, has been mostly unimpressive so far this year, but with a chance to complete his career Grand Slam, he’ll always draw some money. That causes sports books to lower the odds and protect their investments – casinos weren’t built on winners, as they say. But when it comes to the legendary 40-somethings, there’s more to it.
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson: Masters of the Masters Tournament
Let’s start with Phil. Since the year 2000, he’s finished in the top-10 at Augusta 12 times in 18 trips. Of course, he’s won it three times in that span as well. Even in his recent drought – between the 2013 Open and last week in Mexico – he had a storybook run in 2015.
Sure, that story ended with Spieth donning the green jacket after a wire-to-wire run, but Lefty finished at -14, tied for second with Justin Rose. That score would have been good for a win (or at least a playoff) in 13 of the previous 15 Masters. The only ones who beat that mark? Tiger in ’01, and Mickelson himself in ’10, both at -16.
And then, there’s Eldrick Tont Woods. With four green jackets in his champion’s locker in Augusta, Woods has all but taken up residency on the grounds.
Tiger, of course, has missed three of the last four Masters Tournaments, but when he’s played, he’s shined. Since his pro debut in 1997 – hello, world – Woods has finished inside the top-25 every year but one, in 2012. It was his safe haven in 2010 as he returned from scandal, and he was remarkable there in his injury comeback in 2015, too.
This year, Woods’s comeback looks to be complete already. He’s been improving at each event he’s played, and he still may win this week’s Valspar Championship. If he does that, look for him to jump to the top of the Masters books, with all rhyme and reason being thrown out immediately.
Woods and Mickelson are near mirror images of each other at Augusta
But what can the two veterans actually accomplish in 2018, you ask?
Although Woods still has one more green jacket than Lefty, their careers at Augusta are remarkably similar. Since the year 2000 – and removing Woods’s absences from the count – Tiger has an average finish of 7.9, which we’ll call eighth place for fairness.
Phil’s average finish? 9.31, good for either ninth or tenth, depending on your feelings on either mathematics or Phil himself.
Keep in mind that both players have had their ups and downs over the last five years, and they’re still mainstays at the year’s first major. It’s a place where experience can pay massive dividends, and they’ve got that in spades. Actually having their game in top form is basically an unfair advantage.
Next: PGA Tour, Titleist weigh in on raging golf ball distance debate
Four weeks from today, the green jacket will be draped over the Masters champion’s shoulders once again. Will these two massive stars have one more date with destiny?
I can’t wait to find out.