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McIlroy swipes '15 years late' Woods-Mickelson showdown

Count Rory McIlroy out of the Tiger Woods v Phil Mickelson one-on-one golf match on pay-per-view.

The two golf legends are playing off for a US$9 million purse at the Shadow Creek Golf Club in Las Vegas next week – an event closed off to the public.

With only certain VIPs allowed access, fans must pull $20 out of their wallets to watch it.

But McIlroy won’t be one of them.

The former world No.1 is so disinterested in the match-up that he even turned down the money to pay for it from Mickelson himself.

“I said, ‘Oh, I might pay to watch it,’ and (Mickelson) took $25 out of his pocket,” McIlroy told reporters of a recent lunch with the American golfing great.

“He said, ‘No, here’s $25. I’ll pay for it for you, thank you’.

“Look, jeez, if they had a done it 15 years ago it would have been great, but I think nowadays, it’s missed the mark a little bit.”

Rory McIlroy won’t be tuning in to watch Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson battle it out in Las Vegas. Pic: Getty
Rory McIlroy won’t be tuning in to watch Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson battle it out in Las Vegas. Pic: Getty

Woods and Mickelson have battled in tour events for more than 20 years.

Mickelson, 48, joined the PGA Tour in 1992 and Woods, 42, in 1996. Their first match-up was the following year.

Woods holds 80 Tour titles, including the Tour Championship this year.

Yet before that victory he hadn’t won since 2013 as injuries took hold following a turbulent time in his personal life.

He has the second-most major victories of all-time at 14, with four consecutive in 2000 and 2001.

Mickelson has 43 Tour titles, including the 2018 World Golf Championships-Mexico Championships to end a five-year drought.

He has five major victories, though none at the US Open – where has finished runner-up six times.

Woods won more head-to-head meetings at 18-15-4.

Their victories this year have given them needed momentum into the head-to-head matchup, but both are on the back end of their careers.

with Yahoo Sports