Tigers Woods and Phil Mickelson: A Breakdown of Golf's Most Lopsided Rivalry

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have engaged in a rather lopsided rivalry since the late 1990s.

Until two-and-a-half years ago, Woods was the most dominant player in PGA tour history. Most No. 1 players before him had a close rival to challenge them every step of the way.

Bobby Jones had Walter Hagen.

Ben Hogan had Sam Snead.

Jack Nicklaus had Arnold Palmer. 

Greg Norman had Freddie Couples and a host of others.

So, when Tiger started dominating the field, people started searching for another player to pair with him as a rival. Phil Mickelson was the closest thing they could find, and a "rivalry" was born.

There are a few reasons this "rivalry" isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Head-to-Head Matchups

We'll start out with this: Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods have tied so far when the two of them have gone head-to-head, and their record stands at 13-13-4 in those meetings.

Mickelson has gotten the better of Woods lately, outscoring Tiger the last five outings they've been paired together on tour. 

This shouldn't be a big surprise, though, considering the rocky road Woods has been trudging. His world was turned upside down in the scandal that ruined his family life and kept him out of golf for a time.

Before Tiger's downfall, though, he had been laying the smack down on Phil, going 13-8-4 against Lefty head-to-head.

I will be shocked if Woods doesn't start turning this record around like he's turned his entire life and golf game around in the last couple of years. 

Career Wins on Tour

Tiger Woods has won almost twice as many tournaments on the PGA tour as Phil Mickelson. 

Woods has dominated for seasons at a time. He has won 72 tournaments on tour in his career so far, and I have no doubt that he'll continue adding to that total.

At one point—between 1999 and 2003—Tiger won 32 events. That's an  average of more than six wins per season. Woods then followed up that run of dominance with another one—between 2005 and 2008—where he won 25 events. That's an average of just under six wins per season.

Mickelson, on the other hand, has won on tour 40 times in the past. 

He has never won more than four events per year, an accomplishment he's achieved only three times.

Woods has Mickelson beat soundly in this category, and there isn't a chance that's going to change in the future.

Career Major Championships

There is really no comparison between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in this category.

Phil simply can't compete, winning only four majors compared to Tiger's 14.

Please don't get me wrong, I laud Mickelson for his accomplishments both on and off the golf course. Winning four major championships isn't something to scoff at.

Phil just isn't anywhere close to being able to measure up to the lofty achievements Woods has tallied over the course of his career.

There is a good chance both men will end up winning at least one more major before their careers wind down, but even if Mickelson finishes his career off with an incredible flourish, he won't ever sniff the rare air Woods lives in when it comes to major victories.

Woods is the clear winner in this rivalry. To be honest, it's never been a fair one from Mickelson's perspective. 

He just isn't anywhere near as good as Tiger.

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