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Phil Mickelson Names Greatest Golfer of All Time Without Hesitation
© Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Phil Mickelson, now 55 years old, has been one of the most recognizable faces in golf for over three decades, ever since bursting onto the scene with his debut at the U.S. Open in 1992.

Whether it was his magnetic personality, distinctive left-handed swing, or remarkable consistency on the PGA Tour, Mickelson has firmly cemented himself among the greatest to ever play the game.

Still, in his eyes—and in the eyes of many—one name stands above the rest. During a recent round of golf with YouTuber Grant Horvat , Mickelson opened up about how his putter earned the nickname “Tiger Slayer,” a title he’s even written on its cover. While reflecting on that label, Mickelson made it clear: Tiger Woods is, without question, the greatest golfer of all time.

“He owned me the first half of our careers,” Mickelson admitted. “His record against me head-to-head was dominant. It is now even when we play together.”

He continued, “Obviously, his record is his record—he’s the greatest of all time. I’ve seen him do things with a golf ball that I’ve never seen anyone else do. His play in 2000 was indescribable. He owned me in the early part of our careers, and in the second part, I owned him. Our head-to-head record is, I believe, dead even.”

Fittingly, Mickelson was one of Woods’ fiercest rivals during the peak of their careers—and even now, their legacy remains intertwined.

Mickelson is a three-time Masters champion, a six-time major winner, and has recorded 45 PGA Tour victories throughout his illustrious career. Although he now primarily competes on the LIV Golf circuit, he remains eligible to play in major tournaments and is set to compete in The Open Championship next week.

As for Woods, he is currently rehabbing an Achilles injury suffered just before this year’s Masters. While it’s uncertain what form of Tiger we’ll see going forward at age 49, there’s no question he has cemented his legacy not only as the greatest golfer ever but also as one of the most successful athletes of all time.

Woods boasts 15 major championship victories, 82 PGA Tour wins (tied for the most all-time), and was named PGA Tour Player of the Year a record 11 times. He has won the Masters five times, the PGA Championship four times, the U.S. Open three times, and The Open Championship three times—making him one of only six players to complete the career Grand Slam.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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