Phil Mickelson beat Tiger Woods on the 22nd hole to beat Tiger Woods in a $9 million winner-takes-all showdown in Las Vegas Friday evening.
After the game went past nineteen holes without a winner, the Americans made a makeshift 93-yard 20th hole near the practice putting green. The game required two more attempts after that before Mickelson prevailed in a 4-foot putt for the win.
Coming to the event, the two players had won a combined 19 majors. They are also two of the most recognizable golfers in the world. So, when the game began, fans knew they were in for a great match. It wasn’t exactly a classic but still enjoyable nonetheless.
Mickelson, who almost lost on the 17th but Tiger missed the chance, called the game an “incredible opportunity.”
“I’m just trying to calm down, my heart can’t take any more, it was such an incredible opportunity,” Michelson said. “He’s the greatest of all time but to have a little bit of smack talk for the coming years mean a lot to me because I don’t have a lot on him.”
Streamed worldwide on Friday, the match drew a lot of attention on social media. Fans and TV analysts were divided on what they thought about the game. While some fans thought it was entertaining others thought it was pointless and only meant to make two of golf’s elites richer.
