{"id":62222,"date":"2018-04-04T09:10:04","date_gmt":"2018-04-04T09:10:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=62222"},"modified":"2018-04-04T09:10:04","modified_gmt":"2018-04-04T09:10:04","slug":"tiger-woods-phil-mickelson-say-relationship-changed-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/sports\/tiger-woods-phil-mickelson-say-relationship-changed-time.html","title":{"rendered":"Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson both say their relationship has changed over time"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson both say their relationship has changed over time<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Ga. \u2013 Rory McIlroy ran into Tiger Woods on the practice range a little past noon on Tuesday.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI never thought I\u2019d see the day, Tiger and Phil playing a practice round at Augusta,\u201d McIlroy said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Woods laughed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, it was true. For the first time in their long, storied careers at Augusta National, Woods and Phil Mickelson, the two best players of their generation and fierce competitors for more than two decades, went off the 10th tee together for a practice round, the winners of seven green jackets joined by another Masters champion, Fred Couples, and Thomas Pieters.<\/span><\/p>\n

Phil being Phil, Mickelson even dressed up for the special occasion, wearing a long sleeve, button-down dress shirt that works well in a boardroom and, per Mickelson, on the golf course, too.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe only thing that was missing was a tie,\u201d Woods said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was something I just wanted to try out in a practice round and see how it felt,\u201d Mickelson said. \u201cIn the right conditions, it’s fine. It’s a stretchy fabric, so it works well. Yeah, wanted to be dressed up for it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The two\u2019s play was fashionable, as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ahead of Thursday\u2019s start of the 82nd Masters, Woods, a four-time Masters champion and a winner of 79 PGA Tour titles, and Mickelson, a three-time Masters champion and victor in 43 PGA Tour events, were partners and routed Couples and Pieters. Woods made eagles on the two back-nine par-5s and Mickelson made birdies on the 14th, 16th and 17th in front of massive galleries.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a five\u2011hole stretch, we were 7 under, that was some fun play,\u201d Mickelson said.<\/span><\/p>\n

They had some fun behind the 15th green, too. They started hitting flops shots to various spots on the green when Mickelson then took aim at the hole to his right, flopped the ball onto the green and then watched it roll into the cup to the thunderous delight of the patrons.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\u201cThe one to the right was just silly,\u201d Woods said. \u201cHe has a 64-degree wedge, too. And when he lays that thing open, it looks like it’s actually faced backwards. He hits that thing, and I don’t know how he doesn’t hit himself.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s incredible.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The relationship between Woods and Mickelson, strained at times in the past, has become amicable, especially in recent years when Woods was unable to play because of back problems but was an assistant captain in the 2016 Ryder Cup and 2017 Presidents Cup, while Mickelson played in each.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have always had a respect and an appreciation for each other, but I believe coming together to work for a common goal of having success in the Ryder Cup has brought us closer together,\u201d Mickelson said. \u201cHe’s very easy to be around and I enjoy our time together. We laugh, we tell stories, we’re both self\u2011deprecating, and yet we can both throw in a little jab here and there. And we just have fun together.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Woods said the relationship grew through a natural maturation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have competed a lot of times coming down the stretch in events,\u201d Woods said. \u201cWe were joking today about some of the thoughts that transpired here. We have gone through it a long time, and over the better part of 20 years, our friendship has certainly gotten a lot better.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Mickelson even texted Woods during his run at the Valspar Championship earlier this year, when he finished second.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTo see him back out playing is incredible,\u201d Mickelson said. \u201cIt felt like it was a different time continuum because I found myself pulling so hard for him. It was unusual. And I find that I want him to play well, and I’m excited to see him play so well. And he is playing well.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

On that, Couples agreed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThese guys are top players,\u201d Couples said. \u201cHe and Phil certainly did a lot of good things out there \u2013 they had several eagles, a lot of birdies. They enjoyed beating us badly. Tiger is hitting it a long way and hitting it really, really flush.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCome Sunday, they may be paired together. They\u2019re playing extremely well and they love the course and they\u2019re going to do very, very well.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Source:-https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/sports\/golf\/masters\/2018\/04\/03\/tiger-woods-phil-mickelson-have-some-fun-before-masters\/483674002\/<\/span><\/p>\n

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