Winning 15 majors or 18 World Golf Championships, or the records he has created…it is hard to decide which career achievement stands tall for Tiger Woods. However, it is not difficult for any golf fan to know that his biggest professional rival is Phil Mickelson. 

They have always competed to be the best in the golf world throughout their career. Furthermore, both are known to talk trash against each other on occasion. 

Yet, Woods once chose to side with Mickelson over his former caddie, Steve Williams, and he had a good reason to do that.

Tiger Woods on his caddie badmouthing Mickelson!

“Wouldn’t call Mickelson a great player… because I hate the j**k,” Williams said about Lefty during a charity event in New Zealand. According to local reports, he also commented on why Woods and Mickelson didn’t get along. 

In no time, the news spread like wildfire, making the golfers address the issue. “I was disappointed to read the comments attributed to Steve Williams about Phil Mickelson, a player that I respect,” Woods said. He further added, “it was inappropriate. The matter has been discussed and dealt with.”

The problem was solved, but not before Mickelson made his professional rival hear a handful about it. “After seeing Steve Williams’ comments,” Mickelson said to the media. “All I could think of was, how lucky I am to have a class act like Bones on my bag and representing me.” 

Read More: Has Phil Mickelson Ever Been Ranked World #1 in Golf?

Bones is the nickname of Jim Mackay, Lefty’s former caddie. Like Steve Williams for Woods, Bones carried the 6-time major winning champion’s bag for a long time. 

Did Mickelson and Woods become friends after the incident? 

The Mickelson and Woods rivalry began soon after the latter turned professional. Both considered each other as their rivals as they were easily the two best golfers at the time. 

Williams badmouthed Mickelson in 2008, and according to Woods, they sorted the problem out after a discussion. However, the golfers didn’t end their dispute until 2016. “…we were working together for the Ryder Cup. He was an assistant captain,” Lefty said. “We spent a lot of time on the phone. When we worked together for a common goal, it brought us closer.” 

Since then, the golfers have collaborated twice for the golf event, The Match. Although Mickelson and Woods are not rivals now, the duo continues to trash talk each other.

Do you enjoy watching their love-hate relationship? 

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