Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson were rivals before they formed an amicable relationship with each other. Their rivalry continued to grow while Woods was younger, only mellowing down during the latter half of their careers. Woods has previously admitted to this change, which has been interesting to witness.

During an old 2018 appearance on the No Laying Up podcast, the 15-time major champion discussed his relationship with Phil in detail.

In fact, Woods compared their position to Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. The two, not unlike Woods and Mickelson, are two of golf’s greatest. Starting out with a bitter vibe, their relationship on and off the course progressed with time.

Are Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson similar to Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer?

When asked about his rivalry with Mickelson, Woods admitted that it was prominent once upon a time. They both were also ruling the world ranking for weeks, causing them to try and outdo each other.

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“It’s very similar to what Jack and Arnold went through (during the) earlier part of their career. They didn’t really acknowledge one another like they did later in their career and certainly post-playing at an elite level,” he said. “They became a lot closer and that’s what has transitioned with us.”

Are Woods and Mickelson similar?

Furthermore, Woods revealed that he and Mickelson are more similar than they would like. They are passionate about the same thing, which has ultimately brought them closer.

That being said, the duo has also played two editions of The Match against each other. The first was only between the two of them. The second, however, involved Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. At the end of the day, charity-driven events like these have also helped generate a sense of camaraderie between the two.

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Of course, both Woods and Mickelson have also been active for a long time. Though both are away from the course for now, their careers remain an inspiration for generations. Having said that, even their rivalry remains important, especially as it has helped shaped the PGA Tour as we know it.