5 Sunday match-ups we want to see at the 2018 U.S. Open

SOUTHAMPTON, NY - JUNE 12: Tiger Woods of the United States and Dustin Johnson of the United States walk on the second hole during a practice round prior to the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 12, 2018 in Southampton, New York. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images) /

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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL – MAY 11: Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson walk the fairway together during THE PLAYERS Championship on May 11, 2018 at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. Tiger vs. Phil

Ali/Frazier, Jack/Arnie, Sampras/Agassi, Tiger/Phil — there’s nothing like a rivalry in sports, especially in individual sports like boxing, tennis, and golf. Even though they’re both at the back end of their career, to see these two walk up to the first tee box and be the last paring on Sunday at the U.S. Open would be a sight.

Tiger is still chasing the elusive 18, and since Jack Nicklaus says he still can do it, who am I to argue with the Golden Bear. Phil is chasing the career Grand Slam, which Tiger has. So, this matchup if not just one of nostalgia for a golf nut of the late 90s/early 2000s, but it’s one for the history books.

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Imagine if Phil Mickelson could finally get the monkey off his back with Tiger Woods standing on the final green with him while defeating Tiger in the process. Or the other story, Tiger Woods full comeback from the personal issues off the course and injuries.

Woods hasn’t won any event on tour since August 4, 2013, and he hasn’t won a major since the 2008 U.S. Open. If Tiger could prove Jack right and win another major and inch even closer to 18 and give Mickelson his seventh second place finish and deny him the career Grand Slam, that would be an amazing comeback story, and maybe give the world a glimpse of the possibility of being able to surpass Nicklaus’s all-time major wins record.

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