Showdown at Shadow Creek- Tiger vs. Phil

The Match is on: Tiger vs. Phil- for all the marbles $9M worth

It’s finally here, the ultimate golf match for fans of golf since at least the last 25 years. Tiger vs. Phil! It’s on baby!

The $9 million match at Shadow Creek Golf Club in Las Vegas will take place Friday at 3 pm EST on Pay per View for only $20. Ernie Johnson (TBS) and Peter Jacobsen will be joined by Darren Clarke for the broadcast which will feature more on screen statistics, shot-link data, probabilities and wager propositions than any video game. I’m going to love the beautiful course drone flyovers and most importantly no commercials. The real benefit and most fun will come as these guys will be miked up and uncensored. No fans will be bugging them taking photos. They will be numerous side wagers and banter and needling unlike anything you’ve ever seen. These guys have a mutual respect for each other but each absolutely hates to lose to the other. They know the course layout and when and where they should up the ante as well as the psychological ploys to get under the each other’s skin.

Tiger, 42 is the heavy betting favorite at 1-2 (wager $200 to win $100), with the older Mickelson, 48 at +170 (wager $100 to win $170) the underdog. Tiger rightfully deserves favorite status with 80 wins vs. Phil’s 43 and 14 majors vs. Phil’s 5. Tiger is ahead 18-15-4 when they have battled head-to-head.

The Head Bozo is not going to lay 1-2 on any one day golf event when we know anything can happen, hell I broke 80 and now I can’t break 100! So Phil at +170 is the call, not just because of the odds but because I think he’s has prepared more for this match physically and mentally more than Tiger has. In the 24/7 HBO Special previewing this match, Phil provided amazing insights as to ball positioning and club selection from Shadow Creek while taking the viewer on a narrated tour of this wondrous layout. Tiger, to the contrary, played a practice round from his club in Hobe Sound, Florida and I got the feeling he was a little overconfident and taking this match for granted.

Obviously, Tiger is the most talented golfer in history but Phil is magical around the green and specializes in getting out of blind spots and horrible lies to make improbable birdies and save miraculous pars.

They’ll be plenty of birdies, -9 or -8 could be the winning score. Some of the fairways are wide enough and the holes short enough to favor Phil’s 3-wood off the tee. We know driver can get him into trouble. Tiger has been known to be over aggressive as well, and his cockiness could land him in trouble.

Phil seems to have planned this round out better than Tiger has and I get a feeling he has influenced some of the pin placements and the speed of the greens. We know Tiger loves to putt on lightning fast greens, don’t be surprised if the stimpmeter is a little less than expected. Watch for pin placements on the left side of greens to facilitate Lefty’s fade and to increase the difficulty on Tiger’s approach shots.

Do not fool yourself to think Phil is above greasing the Course superintendent to get certain left green pins and slightly slower green speeds slanted in his favor.

I’m really interested to see how these side bets are generated. Phil already offered Tiger a $100,000 bet he’d birdie the first hole. Tiger not only accepted the challenge, he doubled it!

Closest to the pin (they call it KTP), sandys, up and downs and of course longest drive will all be in play at any time. I’ll be glued to the screen to see what other side wagers they can come up with.

I understand most people are either Tiger people or Phil people and of course, personally there are positive and negative things people can say about either. On this day, however, leave all the divisiveness in the locker room. You are going to hear some hilarious digs and reactions. Sit back and enjoy, I’ll be checking out all the live betting props and hoping the old man can go 1-up on the Superstar as he heads into the twilight of his career.

You’ll see a smile as wide as the Grand Canyon and a goofy little nerdy embarrassing “Uncle at the wedding” dance to boot!

-HB