Fansided

Fellow pros not excited about Tiger Woods-Phil Mickelson match

By David Salituro

AKRON, OH - AUGUST 01: Phil Mickelson (L) and Tiger Woods smile during a practice round prior to the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club South Course on August 1, 2018 in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
AKRON, OH - AUGUST 01: Phil Mickelson (L) and Tiger Woods smile during a practice round prior to the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club South Course on August 1, 2018 in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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Pros like Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas say they have no plans to order the Tiger Woods-Phil Mickelson $9 million match on Nov. 23

Not willing to pay up $19.99 to watch the Tiger Woods–Phil Mickelson match? You’re not alone.

Several of their fellow pros also say they have no plans to order the $9 million, winner-take-all duel on Nov. 23.

Rory McIlroy is the latest pro who says he has no interest in the match. Speaking at a tournament in Dubai on Tuesday, McIlroy says it would’ve been better if the 42-year-old Woods and 48-year-old Mickelson had waged this match years ago, when they were both still in their prime.

“Look, if they had done it 15 years ago it would have been great,” McIlroy said. “But nowadays, it’s missed the mark a little bit.”

Justin Thomas says he won’t be watching, instead focusing on football that weekend. “Love TW and Phil to death … but there’s a 0% chance I order that. I’ll be watching football?,” Thomas tweeted on Oct. 6. Other pros like Tommy Fleetwood and Brooks Koepka have also publicly said they don’t plan to watch.

Jordan Spieth, however, may be the only pro who’s actually looking forward to it. “I’m sure that myself and our friends will be watching it,” Spieth said at a press conference before the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

“There is certainly an interest from us, yeah, especially knowing the both of them. Having them mic’d up and knowing them personally, it’ll be kind of extra special.”

Woods and Mickelson, with 123 PGA Tour titles and 19 major championships between them, announced the match back in August. It’s taking place Thanksgiving weekend at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas, and is available only on pay-per-view. No tickets will be sold to the event.

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Both Woods and Mickelson are going all-out to promote the event. A HBO series, 24/7 The Match, premiered on Tuesday night and chronicles their preparation. They have also released promo videos that show them engaged in, among other things, a golf pong competition.

That kind of side action may be more interesting than the actual match. In addition to the $9 million prize, Woods and Mickelson will place side bets on everything from longest drives to making putts. Mickelson teased he’s willing to bet as much as $50,000 on a putt, with all money going to charity.

Woods and Mickelson both won on the PGA Tour last season for the first time since 2013. But Mickelson struggled most of the year, without a top-10 finish since May. Woods, meanwhile, ended his year in style with a win at the Tour Championship.

The match will air on B/R Live, DIRECTV and AT&T U-verse starting at 3:00 p.m. EST on Nov. 23, with a price tag of $19.99.

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