Playing golf for a living is a tough job. And it becomes ten times harder if one is playing for prestige at a major tournament and has to lock horns with Tiger Woods, in the final round.
A similar situation happened with a veteran PGA Tour pro who had to face the biggest challenge on the golf course when he ended up face to face with Woods. Recalling the incident, the Pro reveals how he feels about it after 15 years.
PGA Tour veteran loved his chaotic playoff with Tiger Woods
Former PGA Tour Pro, Rocco Mediate, currently plays on the PGA Tour Champions. But he has spent a long time on the PGA Tour, and has played in numerous tournaments. Although the 6 times PGA Tour winner never won a major championship, he has made his best attempts while performing in them. His best finish came in 2008 at the US Open where he finished on T2. Although he didn’t win, he had an adventure of a lifetime being engaged in a face-off in the final round with Tiger Woods.
Recently Mediate recalled that core memory while he was engaged in a light-hearted round with a young Mini Tour Pro, Brain Mogg at Hazeltine National Golf Club. While on the ground Mediate was asked, “Is it really difficult to play with Tiger?” He replied, “No, I love that the most. It’s chaos. I love chaos. It’s a sad thing but I love chaos.” The clip was shared by Brian on his Instagram.
After this conversation, Mediate and the young pro engaged in a tough competition where Mediate performed barefoot. As the video ended, we couldn’t find out who won but at least we got to know about what Rocco feels about his historic competition.
The epic battle between Rocco Mediate and Tiger Woods at the 2008 U.S. Open
At the 2008 US Open, Woods made a poor start with a double bogey and was having a bad day. Woods was also suffering from a damaged knee which was said to have affected his performance. In the earlier rounds, Mediate made good finishes while Woods was struggling and was clearly in pain. However, in the third round, the golf legend improved his performance and climbed the leaderboard. In the final round, Woods and Mediate had a playoff. In the last moments, Woods excelled with his birdie putt and took the trophy away from the hands of Mediate.
It was a legendary win that brought both of them immense fame. Though Woods enjoyed victory, Rocco ended up with the best performance at a major tournament and an anecdote of a lifetime. What do you think about the historic match? Let us know in the comments below.
It has been two days since Tiger Woods was named as the sixth Player Director on the PGA Tour board, thus breaking his weeks long silence on the massive merger. An unprecedented decision that has been applauded and welcomed by the Tour’s players, it was also soon revealed that this decision was taken upon the request of a group of Tour players.
And one Tour pro, who was an important part of the decision that made this change possible, has revealed the reasons that led to Woods’ appointment.
1X Major winner talks about players’ side of things after Tiger Woods joins PGA Tour board
Australian golfer, Adam Scott, has been playing on the PGA Tour for more than a decade now, and has witnessed multiple changes during his course. But the recent trouble caused by the $3 billion merger, has also left him blindsided. In his attempt to improve the current situation, he became one of the 41 players who supported the decision of Woods to be on the board. During his recent interview with PGA Tour Radio, Scott was asked about his involvement in the same and about the significance of Woods being on the board.
To that, Scott responded by describing how crucial it was to get the golf legend there. He said, “I guess from a player side of things, if you want to get things done then you got to have Tiger’s name on it. Very helpful.” The snippet was shared by SiriusXM PGA TourRadio on Instagram.
He continued “But you know I think a group of players thought really strongly that at this particular time, Tiger Woods’ voice needs to be heard at the highest level with a structure, and getting him on the board was important.” Adam has been a vocal supporter of more rights for Tour golfers since the merger.
Scott believes the involvement of Woods will be a positive aspect for players
Ahead of his appearance at the Wyndham Championship, the 14 times PGA Tour winner has openly expressed his joy on the recent changes, and applauded Woods for taking the responsibility. He further commended Tiger for the willingness of taking up the task at this point in his career and said that going forward, his influence will be a positive thing for the players and the Tour. Scott further insisted on the PGA Tour being a players’ organization, and expressed that in the past few years, it felt like their voice was not being heard. But with Woods joining, things will change for the better.
Besides Woods, other members on the board are Rory McIlroy Patrick Cantlay, Webb Simpson, Charley Hoffman, and Peter Malnati. With Woods becoming a key member, players are expecting more transparency and a better outlook in future decisions.
Phil Mickelson was one of the first high-profile PGA Tour golfers to jump ship to join LIV Golf, having expressed frustration at a lack of player influence on the former; Tiger Woods’ appointment to the board comes amid discontent from members over proposed closer links between LIV and PGA
Phil Mickelson says Tiger Woods joining the PGA Tour Policy Board as a player director is “awesome news”.
Mickelson was one of the first high-profile PGA Tour golfers to jump ship to join LIV Golf, having expressed frustration at a lack of player influence on the former.
“This is great to see,” Mickelson tweeted on Tuesday. “Players having equal representation on the board, Tiger getting more involved, and accountability across the board. Awesome news.”
As a player director, Woods has the authority to approve or decline any potential changes to the Tour.
His appointment to the board comes in the wake of a wave of disappointment from multiple members of the Tour who are upset with PGA commissioner Jay Monahan and the proposed closer links with LIV.
“I am honoured to represent the players of the PGA Tour,” Woods said in a press release from the PGA Tour.
“This is a critical point for the Tour, and the players will do their best to make certain that any changes that are made in Tour operations are in the best interest of all TOUR stakeholders, including fans, sponsors and players.
“The players thank Commissioner Monahan for agreeing to address our concerns, and we look forward to being at the table with him to make the right decisions for the future of the game that we all love.”
Mickelson, 53, joined LIV in June 2022. He was a 45-time winner on the PGA Tour, including six major championships.
Mickelson has yet to win on the LIV circuit. In his most recent event, Mickelson finished tied for 40th at LIV Golf Invitational London at the Centurion Club. He is currently readying for LIV Golf Greenbrier, which begins Friday in West Virginia.
Mickelson offered some rare praise for his old tour and his former rival
Woods was promoted to be the sixth member of the tour’s policy board Tuesday
The PGA Tour’s most outspoken defector is praising his former employer for putting the sport’s biggest name in a position of power.
Phil Mickelson tweeted out his approval of Tiger Woods being named to the PGA Tour’s Policy Board on Tuesday in response to demands from a number of players.
‘This is great to see,’ Mickelson posted. ‘Players having equal representation on the board, Tiger getting more involved, and accountability across the board. Awesome news.’
Mickelson’s praise for a longtime rival of his is somewhat surprising, especially considering the two stand on vastly opposite sides of the LIV-PGA issue.
While Tiger has remained with the PGA Tour and has often vocally defended it, Mickelson left for LIV and has been playing on the tour for over a year.
The announcement yesterday of Tiger’s new appointment came after a number of players expressed their disappointment at the proposed LIV-PGA merger in a letter addressed to PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan.
The letter, the New York Times said, ‘amounted to a dramatic effort to reclaim power over a circuit that got its modern start after a player rebellion in the late 1960s.’
The addition of Woods is the latest in a number of concessions the PGA Tour players have gotten from Monahan.
‘I am honored to represent the players of the PGA TOUR. This is a critical point for the TOUR, and the players will do their best to make certain that any changes that are made in TOUR operations are in the best interest of all TOUR stakeholders, including fans, sponsors and players,’ Woods said.
‘The players thank Commissioner [Jay] Monahan for agreeing to address our concerns, and we look forward to being at the table with him to make the right decisions for the future of the game that we all love.
‘He has my confidence moving forward with these changes.’
‘Tiger’s voice and leadership throughout his career have contributed immeasurably to the success of the PGA TOUR, and to apply both to our governance and go-forward plan at this crucial time is even more welcomed and impactful,’ said Monahan.
‘I am committed to taking the necessary steps to restore any lost trust or confidence that occurred as a result of the surprise announcement of our Framework Agreement.
‘My job in the negotiations – in partnership with our Player Directors, PAC and the broader membership – is to advocate for what is best for the PGA TOUR members today and in the future.
‘Any agreement we reach must be shaped by our members’ input and approval earned through our Player Directors.’
As the sixth player director, Woods joins golfers like Webb Simpson and Patrick Cantlay on the board.
Players who wrote to Monahan said that the secret deal with the Saudi Public Investment Fund betrayed the idea that the tour should be run by and for the benefit of the players.
Many of the tour’s top athletes were given little notice of the deal prior to the announcement, with their reactions in real time widely expressing displeasure.
It appears that displeasure has not waned in the months since the deal was announced.
‘We still don’t really have a lot of clarity as to what’s going on, and that’s a bit worrisome,’ Scottie Scheffler said last month.
‘They keep saying it’s a player-run organization, and we don’t really have the information that we need.’
The New York Times reports that in recent weeks, players have been speaking privately about changes they want to see from the tour.
Woods has not played a tournament this season since he withdrew in the middle of the third round of The Masters.
Share or comment on this article:
Phil Mickelson praises the PGA Tour’s decision to bring Tiger Woods onto the Policy Board… a move seen as a ‘critical moment’ for the golf circuit
It was, in the literal sense of the term, a vote of confidence for PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan. A “new agreement” to ensure the Tour, led by Monahan, “lives up to its mission.”
But anyone reading Tuesday morning’s press release from the Tour knew it was the opposite. The players had just delivered a staggering rebuke of Monahan’s decision-making in recent months and scope of authority atop the PGA Tour, stripping away the same legislative freedoms that originally had allowed him to sign a framework agreement with the Saudi Public Investment Fund and reshape the future of professional golf without their knowledge.
But that wasn’t the surprising part of Tuesday morning’s announcement. The really striking part was the superstar at the center of the reorganization — a player whose silence has loomed large over professional golf in the eight weeks since the framework agreement was first announced: Tiger Woods.
According to multiple reports, Woods was the leader of a group of more than 40 players who delivered Monahan a letter on Monday detailing a list of demands for the future of the PGA Tour. Monahan swiftly agreed to those mandates, which included installing Woods as a sixth “player director” atop the PGA Tour policy board and granting players the right of first refusal on all aspects of a “definitive agreement” with the PIF. The changes give players a voting majority on PGA Tour matters heading forward, and ensure that Monahan and the Tour’s non-player board members can no longer act unilaterally on behalf of players without their knowledge, as Monahan, Jimmy Dunne and Ed Herlihy did forging the “framework” agreement with the PIF.
Woods has not spoken publicly since news of the merger first broke on June 6, which is notable considering the unilateral support the Tour received from golf’s largest stakeholders in the wake of the announcement. When word surfaced of Woods’ policy-board appointment on Tuesday, his first words on the merger were supportive of Monahan.
“The players thank Commissioner Monahan for agreeing to address our concerns,” he said in a release distributed by the Tour. “We look forward to being at the table with him to make the right decisions for the future of the game that we all love.”
But it didn’t take a linguistics expert to understand the deeper meaning. In perhaps his most brazen move as a playing professional, Woods had led a mutiny to seize back the power of golf’s largest professional tour from its non-playing leadership. Under the new agreement, Monahan was rendered powerless in negotiating a definitive agreement with the Saudis without player support. The players, on the other hand, now hold the full weight of negotiating power — and the counsel and expertise of Colin Neville, a long-time team-golf proponent and newly minted special advisor.
The new structure marks a tectonic shift in the power dynamics of professional golf. But perhaps it shouldn’t have landed as a surprise. Particularly not given Woods’ own words over these last 18 months.
It was Woods, after all, who had proven himself professional golf’s leading opponent to Saudi involvement. In just the last year, he turned down an offer “in the neighborhood” of $700 million, per LIV Golf commissioner Greg Norman; orchestrated a Tour-defining “players-only” tarmac meeting in Delaware; and delivered a striking condemnation of LIV Golf at the Open Championship at St. Andrews.
“As far as the players who have chosen to go to LIV and to play there, I disagree with it,” Woods said at the beginning of an impassioned criticism of the upstart tour. “They’ve turned their back on what has allowed them to get to this position.”
At the Hero World Challenge in November, he doubled down on his criticism of LIV players and leadership, chafing at “the way they showed their disregard or disrespect to the Tour that helped them get to [this] point.” He argued there may be a path forward for the PIF and the PGA Tour, but it would require Greg Norman’s dismissal from the lead position at LIV.
When news broke of the agreement in June, it didn’t take long before word followed that Woods, like the rest of pro golf, was left in the dark until the deal’s final stages. It was unclear then how Woods felt about the agreement, but not any longer.
Woods, like many of his peers, sees Monahan’s decision to negotiate their future without their knowledge as a grave betrayal of trust. A betrayal they feel can’t — and now won’t — ever happen again.
“I am honored to represent the players of the PGA Tour,” Woods said. “This is a critical point for the Tour, and the players will do their best to make certain that any changes that are made in Tour operations are in the best interest of all Tour stakeholders, including fans, sponsors and players.”
The goal of these changes is written right there in the press release: for the players, by the players. The result is just as easy to understand: the era of secrets in men’s professional golf is over — and the era of player empowerment is only just beginning.
As Woods closed his first statement since the announcement of golf’s landmark merger, he cleared up one final bit of business.
“He has my confidence moving forward with these changes,” Woods said of his embattled commissioner.
Which would seem to suggest Monahan had previously lost it.
Multiple players signed a letter to PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan
They demanded changes amid trust issues as a result of the merger with LIV
Woods has been absent from playing since April as he recovers from a foot injury
Tiger Woods has been added to the PGA Tour’s board after lobbying from 41 of the world’s leading players amid serious trust issues brought on by the recent merger with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
The Tour and its commissioner, Jay Monahan, have faced huge criticism from the game’s leading lights over the secretive alliance that was struck up with the backers of the LIV circuit in June.
A number of top golfers, including Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler, had privately pushed for Woods, an outspoken critic of LIV, to have a seat at the table at a point when the practicalities of the merger are still up in the air and yet to be agreed.
In a move towards greater ‘transparency’ with their disgruntled membership, the PGA Tour announced on Tuesday the 15-time major winner will now take up a position as the sixth ‘player director’ on their policy board.
Woods said: ‘This is a critical point for the Tour, and the players will do their best to make certain that any changes that are made in Tour operations are in the best interest of all Tour stakeholders, including fans, sponsors and players.
‘The players thank commissioner Monahan for agreeing to address our concerns, and we look forward to being at the table with him to make the right decisions for the future of the game that we all love. He has my confidence moving forward with these changes.’
It is a key intervention from Woods, whose standing in the game is unmatched and, as such, will have a considerable bearing on negotiations around the merger. To date, the majority of golf’s star names are still in the dark about how the contentious union will be manifested, with a lingering resentment that they were not consulted ahead of an agreement being struck.
Monahan, who recently returned to work following an undisclosed ‘medical situation’, said: ‘I am committed to taking the necessary steps to restore any lost trust or confidence that occurred as a result of the surprise announcement of our framework agreement (with the PIF).
‘My job in the negotiations is to advocate for what is best for the PGA Tour members today and in the future. Any agreement we reach must be shaped by our members’ input and approval earned through our player directors.’
Woods, who has not played since April as he recovers from foot surgery, joins McIlroy, Patrick Cantlay, Charley Hoffman, Peter Malnati and Webb Simpson as a player director on the Tour’s policy board.
Share or comment on this article:
Tiger Woods joins PGA Tour board and says golf is at ‘a critical point’ after shock plans to merge with LIV
Tiger Woods is opening up about life and parenthood in his new series, “A Round With Tiger: Celebrity Playing Lessons.”
The first episode, which was filmed just one day before he was involved in a serious car crash on Feb. 23, debuted Tuesday on Golf Digest and featured Jada Pinkett Smith.
The two engaged in a round of golf and discussed an array of topics, including parenthood, and the 45-year-old athlete shared what he’s learned from his daughter, 14-year-old Sam.
“She has taught me how to be more patient,” he said, describing Sam as his “little girl.” “I don’t ever want her to leave home.”
The five-time Masters winner is also the proud father to 12-year-old son, Charlie. He explained that he doesn’t coach his son in golf because he doesn’t want him to feel pressure there. “I don’t want him to fall onto that trap,” Woods said.
However, it seems even without the coaching, Charlie inherited some of his father’s skill.
“He just watches me do it, and then he kind of does it,” Woods said of Charlie, agreeing with Pinkett Smith that his son is “a natural.”
Woods also opened up about the discipline and resilience he practices, stating, “I’m always fighting, you know, and I’m always trying to get better. That’s all I know.”
“I feel like I’m never out of the fight, you know, in that regard,” he continued. “I’m always pushing.”
The pro also described how his own thoughts on his game always pushed him to work even harder. “For me, I always felt like I wasn’t the most talented,” he shared. “So I felt like I had to work my a– off because I was always younger than everyone else … so I want to become better.”
Woods is currently still recovering from the car crash and gave his “blessing” for “A Round With Tiger: Celebrity Playing Lessons” to be released.
Tiger Woods‘ first hole-in-one golf ball, which he hit on his professional debut in 1996, made history and signaled the start of an extraordinary career. Well, it was set to grab attention once more. The renowned golfer’s signed Titleist was put up for sale and, unsurprisingly enough, brought in a king’s ransom.
As last year’s November drew near, excitement for the sale of Tiger Woods’ first hole-in-one golf ball, a prized relic that marked the beginning of an unrivaled athletic career, grew. Woods has made his name in sports history with a career that includes 15 Major wins and an incredible 82 PGA Tour victories. Golf lovers, sports fans, and collectors from all around the world watched the auction in anticipation of their chance to acquire this one-of-a-kind piece of golfing history.
Tiger Woods’ first hole-in-one golf ball sells for jaw-dropping $186,000.
From November 17–19, 2022, the eagerly awaited auction took place at Heritage Auctions’ Fall Sports Catalogue Auction in the US.
For the signed Titleist, Heritage Auctions set a low guide price of US$50,000 (S$70,165). Given the enormous value and extreme rarity of such a special artifact, experts predicted that the final bid might much exceed this estimate.
The auction came to an exciting conclusion as eager buyers competed for this unique piece of golf history. As the offers continued to rise above projections, the excitement in the room was apparent. Ultimately, one lucky buyer won the ball for an incredible price of more than $186,000.
Other Woods memorabilia, including his Title 681-T irons, which he used to win each of his four major championships in 2000 and 2001, earned an astounding $7.2 million at auction months before the first hole-in-one golf ball’s auction in the last year.p
The lucky fan who got Tiger Woods’ historic memorabilia 26 years ago
It was twenty-six years ago, at the 1996 Greater Milwaukee Open, when a young Tiger Woods made his triumphant debut as a professional golfer. From that moment on, the extraordinary adventure of this historic golf ball began. He aced the 14th hole in the final round, leaving the audience in awe of his incredible talent, to a loud ovation. Little did the world know that this was the beginning of a career that would pave the way, despite the fact that he placed modestly in 60th place in that tournament.
Woods threw the ball into the jubilant crowd after his tremendous shot, and after a tiny deflection off the hand of his brother-in-law David Beck, it ended up in the hands of lucky fan Bob Gustin. Gustin made sure to obtain the ball signed by the rising star thanks to a link with tournament director Tom Strong, realizing the historical significance of the occasion.
Gustin has proudly displayed the prized Titleist in a glass case for the past 26 years, along with details about the competition and the occasion of Woods’ incredible achievement. However, he had then made the decision to sell this special keepsake through an auction.
What’s your take on the Woods’ first hole-in-one golf ball auction? Let us know your view in the comments below.
Tiger Woods is one of the greatest golfers of all time. His accolades and performances have cemented that over the last two decades. He has more PGA Tour victories than everyone else and more majors than everyone not named Jack Nicklaus.
Naturally, there are a lot of factors involved in deciding that. Talent matters, and some of it can’t be taught. Other factors like swing speed can be improved, as can accuracy, form, and the rest. Equipment matters, as does work ethic.
All of that ultimately results in a swing that determines how good a golfer can be. Their swings determine where the ball goes, and that is the name of the game.
Here are the best golfers of all time based on those swings:
The golfers with the best golf swings
5) Brooks Koepka
For evidence of Brooks Koepka’s excellent swing, look no further than his PGA Championship win. For years, he’s been lauded for his swing, which has translated into an excellent career.
Even now on LIV Golf, he commands attention and is still one of the best golfers in the world. His average swing speed was tracked in 2016, and it was a stunning 122.77 mph.
4) Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy doesn’t have the fastest swing, but it generally goes much further than other golfers. There are naturally a lot of facets to making the current world number three golfer, but his driving distance is what sets him apart.
He’s routinely able to hit the ball further than his counterparts, which makes the rest of each hole easier. He has pretty good swing speed, too, recently knocking a ball at a speed of 188.
3) Fred Couples
Fred Couples had a tempo with his swing that was largely unmatched, and it made him one of the most successful golfers ever. Couples is a golfing legend, and his swing has stood the test of time.
To this day, it’s considered one of the fastest and one of the best-looking. That’s not all that a golfer needs, but it clearly goes a long way.
2) Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus played in an era where the competition may not have been as strong. Athletically, sports players are more evolved now than they were back then. That matters in all sports, including golf.
It’s hard to compare Nicklaus’ performances to modern times without knowing how to adjust for the era, but his swing doesn’t need adjustment. 18 majors can only come from an excellent swing.
You don’t win 15 majors and over 80 PGA Tour events without one of the best swings of all time. Even with a hobbled body and crippled limbs, Tiger Woods’ swing is still one of the best in the game.
His body can’t hold up his swing’s promise, but the swing is beautiful. He’s not the longest driver in the game, and he doesn’t have the fastest swing speed of all time. It’s still one of the best swings ever.
A look back at Tiger Woods incredible journey as he dominates the golfing world, achieving the monumental Tiger Slam of four consecutive major victories.
The incredible feat of none other than Tiger Woods, who won four straight major championships from 2000 to 2001, created a legend in the exhilarating world of golf that endures to this day. Unquestionably, this incredible accomplishment—now commonly known as the Tiger Slam—has completely changed the game.
The one and only Tiger Woods enthralled the entire golfing world with a swing that has often been regarded as the best the sport has ever seen, leaving an enduring imprint on the very fabric of the game. Tiger set his eyes on something genuinely spectacular from the renowned US Open, the year’s first major.
The young golfer set out on his path to golfing glory with the unwavering conviction, “This guy’s a freak of nature, and I want to be him one day,” echoing in his voice. Unbeknownst to the world, this apparently daring endeavor would eventually lead to one of the most astounding exhibitions of brilliance, steadfast determination, and unmatched mental fortitude to ever grace the famous greens.
The Tiger Slam: A legendary journey
Tiger Woods‘s extraordinary abilities became stronger week after week and tournament after tournament, mesmerizing the whole golfing community with each shot. The mysterious golfer had to deal with incessant questions about how he felt about competing in the prestigious Augusta event.
Unfazed by outside expectations, Tiger stayed focused on the procedure, relentless preparation, and unflinching faith in what had led him to the height of success. He bucked social conventions and seemed unaffected by the growing demands of a constantly watching audience. The Tiger Slam was more than simply a competition for prizes; it was a display of unrelenting brilliance that raised the bar for future generations.
The great annals of golf history will forever bear witness to Woods‘ quest for the Tiger Slam. His extraordinary skill, laser-like concentration, and unwavering resolve are an inspiration to sports fans all throughout the globe.
One of the most astonishing feats in the rich history of the game, holding all four major trophies concurrently was a significant milestone never previously accomplished in the contemporary age of golf. When we think back on the Tiger Slam, we are in awe of the genius of a legendary sports figure who not only revolutionized the sport but also made a lasting impression on the hearts of millions of people across the world.
The Tiger Slam, which took golf to new heights, is a monument to the excellence of a single individual. This extraordinary achievement will always be remembered as a benchmark of greatness, motivating future generations of golfers to pursue their goals and make a lasting impression on the world stage of sports. The Tiger Slam is more than simply a golfing triumph; it is an enduring legend that motivates people all around the globe to strive for excellence in their various fields.
