CHASKA, Minn. — They were once fierce rivals, who couldn’t stand each other — if you believe a lot of the chatter during those first few years when Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson were the top two players in golf. They battled for fans, sponsorships and major championships, and seemed as cordial as Hillary and Trump.
But there they were late Monday night during a gathering of the US Ryder Cup team, working the room together, telling stories of Ryder Cups past and offering insight on what could lead to victory this weekend at the 41st Ryder Cup at Hazeltine.
They are partners, at least for this week, using their experience and leadership to influence an American squad hoping to end the Europeans’ streak of three straight wins in this biennial competition. Woods, the 14-time major winner, is one of five vice-captains under captain Davis Love III, while Mickelson will be playing in his 11th straight Ryder Cup, more than any other player in American history. Together they already have emerged as the vocal leaders of the US squad.
“It didn’t take a day for Tiger and Phil to take over in the team room,” Love confirmed.
Mickelson has been involved in all aspects of this Ryder Cup, offering his opinion on the selection process, course set-up and possible pairings. It continues this week.
“Phil and I had a very frank conversation [Monday] night at dinner, and we had a very frank conversation in the line to get our pictures made this morning,” Love said. “Phil is a big part of the leadership of this team, and you can see it on and off the golf course. I like the way he thinks and I like his planning.”
Same with Woods. Out all season following back surgery, he was an early choice for vice-captain and seems to have embraced his role to the point of trying to be part of a team picture taken on Tuesday that was meant only for the players. He was ordered aside by the photographer. It was his first gaffe of the week.
“His analysis and his determination and his focus have really been helpful over the last couple months,” Love said of Woods.
Woods, 40, and Mickelson, 46, haven’t always been a good mix at the Ryder Cup. They were paired together by then-captain Hall Sutton for the opening four-balls and foursomes matches at the 2004 Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills. Their chemistry was awful. They lost 2-and-1 to Colin Montgomerie and Padraig Harrington in four-balls and 1-up to Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood, giving the Europeans early momentum they never relinquished en route to an easy 18 ½ to 9 ½ victory.
Individually, their Ryder Cup records aren’t sparkling: Mickelson is 16-19-6 in 10 appearances and has been on just two winning teams (1999, 2008). Woods is 13-17-3 in seven matches. He was a winner in 1999. He missed 2008 after knee surgery. But combined they have won 121 tour events and 19 majors championships.
“Obviously, Tiger and Phil have had a huge amount of success for a reason,” Love said, “because they know what they are doing.”
Love was the captain of the last US Ryder Cup team Mickelson and Woods played on together, the 2012 squad that blew a 10-6 lead going into the singles matches only to lose the competition 14 ½ to 13 ½ at Medinah. Mickelson then clashed with captain Tom Watson at the 2014 Ryder Cup in Gleneagles, where Mickelson was benched during Friday’s rounds of four-balls and foursomes. Everyone seems to be one happy family at Hazeltine.
“We all come into Ryder Cups as individuals the first year and we want to play five matches and we want to know when we are going to get the ball,” Love said. “And once you play it, you figure out, wait a minute. This is all about team. I think Phil figured it out. Tiger figured it out.”
The Americans only can hope Mickelson and Woods are better paired as Ryder Cup leaders than they were as Ryder Cup players.