Golf icons Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are set to go one-on-one this Friday, November 23 at Shadow Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas, with $9 million on the line in a winner-take-all showdown. However, the two legends have also decided to add at least one $200,000 side bet on the first hole because, why not?
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images for The Match)
During a news conference on Tuesday at Shadow Creek, Mickelson flirted with the idea of side bets that are to be part of the pay-per-view event, which is set to begin at 3 pm ET. Naturally, Tiger boosted the stakes.
"I feel like the first hole is a great hole for me," Mickelson said, per ESPN. "And I believe -- in fact I'm willing to risk $100,000 that says I birdie the first hole. So that's how good I feel heading into this match."
Mickelson made it clear to Woods that he didn't have to accept, but the 14-time major champion said: "So you think you can make birdie on the first hole?
"I know I'm going to make birdie on the first hole," Mickelson said.
"Double it," Woods responded.
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Additionally, both Woods and Mickelson have agreed to be miked up for the event. Mickelson told Golf.com's Alan Shipnuck, “You will hear a lot of the comments that you don’t hear on regular TV. We both like to talk smack, and we both have fun with what we’re doing. And the fact that this isn’t an official tournament, that it’s just a head-to-head match, you’ll hear some of the little nuances, some of the little things that you don’t normally pick up.”
According to ESPN, Woods is currently favored (-200) at the Westgate Las Vegas. The live event will be broadcast on PPV for $19.99. It can be ordered through major cable providers, including AT&T's DirecTV, U-Verse, Verizon and Comcast.
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images for The Match)
