Hype machine fully engaged for Tiger, Mickelson Las Vegas match

By Brian Hurlburt Special to the Review-Journal

6 years ago

Phil Mickelson, left, listens to Tiger Woods speak during a news conference where they were announced as captain’s picks for the 2018 U.S. Ryder Cup Team, Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2018, in West Conshohocken, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods make their way to the 18h hole during the first round of the U.S. Open Championship golf tournament Thursday, June 14, 2012, at The Olympic Club in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

During the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open at TPC Summerlin, three-time majors champion Jordan Spieth offered his opinion about “The Match,” the $9 million, winner-take-all, pay-per-view duel between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson on Nov. 23 at Shadow Creek.

“I’m sure that myself and our friends will be watching it,” Spieth said. “There is certainly an interest from us, yeah, especially knowing the both of them. Having them mic’d up and knowing them personally, it’ll be kind of extra special.”

Justin Thomas, the world’s fourth-ranked player, did not play in the Shriners and doesn’t share Spieth’s opinion, recently tweeting, “Love TW and Phil to death…. but there’s a 0% chance I order that. I’ll be watching football!”

Now with the match about a week away, the hype machine is fully engaged.

A Bleacher Report video released on social media showed Woods and Mickelson competing in a game of golf pong. Phil got the better of Tiger, chipping nine balls into red buckets in 90 seconds while Woods made eight.

Mickelson’s footage was filmed during a recent scouting trip to Shadow Creek, which by most accounts Woods is more familiar with than Mickelson.

“I’ll see you in Vegas,” Mickelson said to close the video.

Turner Sports released “Destiny” last week that shows Mickelson and Woods from their amateur days to the present, including a very young Woods saying, “I might be playing against Phil Mickelson (someday).”

Also, the debut episode of HBO’s “24/7” is at 10 p.m. Tuesday. The Emmy-winning show best known for covering boxing is chronicling “The Match” and featuring golf for the first time.

A news conference is set for Nov. 20 at Shadow Creek, and both players are expected to attend. “The Match” starts at noon the day after Thanksgiving.

“The Match” is available on pay-per-view for $19.99 through Turner’s B/R Live, DirecTV, and AT&T U-verse and also be distributed through Comcast, Charter, Cox, Verizon and Altice. As first reported in the Review-Journal, there are no tickets available to the public to watch live.

Vegas pros go for senior dream

Among the Las Vegas residents playing in the PGA Tour Champions Q school first stage at Primm Valley Lakes through Friday are Jeff Gallagher, Reflection Bay teaching pro, and Bob May, who operates his golf academy at TPC Las Vegas. May won the 1999 British Masters and finished runner-up to Tiger Woods at the 2000 PGA Championship.

Also among the field of 76 is Las Vegas’ Jeff LeMaster. Last year, 16 qualifiers advance to the final stage, including Gallagher and LeMaster. The final stage is Nov. 27-30 in Florida.

Weekly deal

Play in the Bear’s Best Charity Classic Dec. 2 for $160 and receive an additional two free rounds at the Jack Nicklaus course.

Knight Center open house

The state-of-the-art UNLV Dwaine Knight Center for Professional Golf Management is open to the public Saturday. Tickets to the open house start at $60 and options include breakfast, lunch, golf at Las Vegas National and more. Visit UNLV.edu/pga for info.

The center is named for men’s golf coach Dwaine Knight and is arguably the nation’s top golf management facility, which is available to UNLV men’s and women’s golf teams.

The golf notebook appears Wednesdays. Freelance writer Brian Hurlburt is a two-time author who has covered golf in Las Vegas for more than two decades. He can be reached at bhurlburt5@gmail.com or @LVGolfInsider.