A high-stakes match between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson is something we would expect to witness in April at Augusta with the Masters in contention, not in late November when the golf season is already over.
But that is precisely what we’re getting on Friday at Shadow Creek Golf Course in North Las Vegas, as Tiger and Phil square off in a winner-take-all match play competition for a purse worth $9 million.
However, the two golfers won’t keep all the money as it was already announced that they will each donate a portion of the proceeds to several charities of their choosing.
The made-for-tv golf event, which is closed to the public, will also include several side bets that are expected to reach six or seven figures and will be wagered with money coming out of the players’ own pockets. Such bets including some already agreed upon by Phil and Tiger and some that will probably be suggested on the spot.
The first hole, for instance, includes a challenge worth $200,000 as Mickelson must make birdie or Woods pockets that money to later donate it to a charity of his choice.
With both players and their caddies mic’d up the event will allow fans to get unprecedented access to the contestants and their emotions as they go through the match, while the use of unbelievable drone coverage will show fans different angles and shots of the action as it takes place.
This pay-per-view golf match will have a suggested retail price of $19.99 and tees off at 3 p.m. Eastern time.
This duel in the desert, featuring two of golf’s most popular athletes squaring off in an 18-hole battle, was originally scheduled to take place on July 3 in Las Vegas, but the details surrounding the match’s TV rights and corporate sponsorship reportedly weren’t settled in time.
Mickelson first suggested this head-to-head battle to Woods back in May when they were paired for the first two rounds of the Players Championship.
