By AAGD STAFF
(November 23, 2018) Whether or not you opted for the $19.99 ($USD) pay-per-view tournament stream, Tiger Woods walked away with a whopping $200,000 in a bet at “The Match” against rival Phil Mickelson. The nail went into Mickelson’s coffin when he failed to birdie the first hole at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas on Friday, at one of golf’s biggest and most ambitious events.
There were other fun side bets by both golfers, which saw Mickelson eventually come out in front by $400,000; those will go to a charity of his choice. The biggest of those bets was a $1 million side bet, which would have gone to either golfer if they had holed out for eagle on the par-4 ninth hole. Neither came close.
Tiger vs. Phil result: Phil wins 1 UP after 22 holes
Side bets
1. Birdie on No. 1 for Phil ($200K) | Result: Tiger wins
2. Closest to the pin on No. 5 ($100K) | Result: Phil wins
3. Closest to the pin on No. 8 ($200K) | Result: Phil wins
4. Putts on No. 8 ($75K / $50K) | Result: No winner
5. Eagle on No. 9 ($1 million) | Result: No winner
6. Eagle on No. 11 ($200K) | Result: No winner
7. Closest to the pin on No. 13 ($300K) | Result: Phil wins
8. Long drive on No. 14 ($100K) | Result: No winner
However, in the end it was $9 Million Winner Phil Mickelson who finally ended “The Match” by knocking in a 5-foot birdie on the 22nd hole. Turner, which sold and streamed the widely advertised multi-platform pay-per-view event, put up the prize money of $9 million in the winner-take-all event. Tournament duos, Woods and Mickelson, had already decided to contribute their own monies towards charity in numerous side bets.
On social media sites across the board, many golf fans had vowed not to watch the pay-per-view tournament which may be one of the most controversial golf events ever staged. The bragging rights for this never-before-seen, one-off, head-to-head exhibition between two greying 40-something champions was pumped up by the media with a wad of money leading the headlines. However, many were questioning the fact as to why anyone would pay to watch this match when the two players can be seen every weekend on the PGA Tour? Well, note this. First, there are only two players and there are no commercials during the tournament. You won’t find this format every week on the PGA Tour. And, the legalized gambling? Well, maybe this experiment will become common-place four Tour events of the future. Something to think about, huh?
But hey, wait a minute, many fans paid the streaming price and tuned in, only to be outraged when finding out “The Match” event was streaming for free on the Bleacher Report website! It happens that due to technical difficulties Turner executives decided, at the last minute, to give away its stream for free, according to ESPN.
Nevertheless, the live event’s added excitement included lots of technology along with overhead drone cameras and pre-match commentary with avid golfer/actor Samuel L. Jackson and former NBA champion/avid golfer Charles Barkley, elaborating to viewers as to what to expect.
BRING ON THE MONEY
Mickelson wagered $100,000 on Tuesday, betting that he would birdie the first hole. Then, Woods followed that challenge by doubling the bet. When it was on, at the par 4 opening hole, Mickelson looked fairly good in his approach shot coming to a mere nine feet of the hole. Woods followed this up by putting from 10 feet, but unfortunately, he missed the birdie putt right and conceded his par. Mickelson. and his brother, Tim, who was his caddie, had read the shot as a left-to-right putt. Although the speed was correct, the ball stayed just left to the cup.
Both Woods and Mickelson parred the hole, staying even through one hole. Woods picked up the $200,000 side and the money will be donated to the charity of his choice.
