Tigers Hat

The All Biggest Tiger Woods Snubs

Below is a look back at some memorable snubs at Woods over the years.

 

Colin Montgomerie, 1997 Masters

The snub: In Woods' debut major as a professional, he took a three-shot lead into Saturday, exactly where Montgomerie suggested the impressionable young star might succumb to your pressure of having the lead in a major.

 

The result: Woods shot 65 on Saturday. Montgomerie shot 74. "There is no likelihood," a contrite Monty said about the field catching Woods on Sunday. "We're all human beings here. There's no likelihood humanly possible."

 

Paul Tesori, 2000 Presidents Cup

The snub: Woods had just won the previous three major championships, but when Tesori's man, Vijay Singh, drew the planet No. 1 in a Sunday singles match, the veteran caddie couldn't resist stoking the fire. He showed up for that match wearing a hat with the words, "Tiger Who?" stitched within the back.

 

The result: Woods won 2 and one, and the U.S. recaptured the Presidents Cup. "It probably just pumped Tiger up to play better with r11 driver," Tesori said.

 

Sergio Garcia, 2002 U.S. Open

The snub: A day earlier, Garcia implied that Woods got favorable treatment through the tournament committee when Garcia's half of the field was subjected to borderline-unplayable weather while Woods was safe inside the clubhouse. Then on Saturday, after shooting a 67 to earn a spot inside final pairing with Woods, Garcia shrugged off any Woods intimidation factor. "I'm respectful of his sport and his persona. But we're just two human beings trying to put a little ball inside hole," he said.

 

The result: Woods shot 72 to capture his second straight major. Garcia shot 74 and finished fourth.

 

Phil Mickelson, 2003 Buick Invitational

The snub: In a magazine interview, Mickelson said he and Woods had an amicable-enough relationship, but there was one particular source of tension between them. "He hates that I can fly it past him now," Mickelson said. "He has a faster swing speed than I do, but he has inferior equipment."

 

The result: Paired together a week later within the final round at Torrey Pines, Woods edged Mickelson to win in his season debut. ''It was an area that I just never should have gone,'' Mickelson said of his equipment remark.

 

Stephen Ames, 2006 Accenture Match Play Championship

The snub: Prior to facing Woods in the to begin with round of the Match Play, the outspoken Ames said Woods' errant ball-striking could play to your underdog's advantage. "Anything can occur," Ames said, "especially where he's hitting the ball with burner 2.0 irons."

 

The result: Woods rolled over Ames 9 and 8 from the to begin with round. Asked if he heard Ames' comments, Woods nodded and said yes. Asked for his reaction, Woods simply said, "9 and 8."

 

Luke Donald, 2006 PGA Championship

The snub: Tied with Woods at 14 under heading into the final round, Donald arrived with the to begin with tee for their final-round pairing in a red shirt, a color Woods notoriously favors on Sunday.

 

The result: Through the sixth hole, Donald was four down, and Woods never looked back. Asked his reaction to Donald's red shirt, Woods cracked, "I thought it was kind of weird to have a blue belt with it."

 

Rory Sabbatini, 2007 Wachovia Championship

The snub: After Woods shot 69 against Sabbatini's 74 from the final round at Quail Hollow, Sabbatini insisted Woods was more a beneficiary of fantastic luck than anything else. "The funny thing is, after watching him play previous Sunday, I think he is more beatable than ever," Sabbatini said. "I think there's a few fortuitous occasions out there that really changed the round for him at Wachovia."

 

The result: The two didn't cross paths again until 3 months later in the Bridgestone Invitational, but Woods made use of the option nonetheless. Paired with Sabbatini in the final round, Woods shot 65 to win. Sabbatini again shot 74.

 

Rory McIlroy, 2010 Ryder Cup

The snub: With Woods going winless for the first time in his professional career, the young McIlroy said he welcomed an opportunity to face the star within the Ryder Cup in Wales. "I would really like to face him," McIlroy said in an interview with the BBC in August. "Unless his sport rapidly improves inside next month or so, I think anyone within the European staff would fancy his chances against him."

 

The result: The two never faced each other at Celtic Manor, and the Europeans were indeed able to regain the Ryder Cup. But it wasn't because of Woods. The former No. 1 went 3-1 for that U.S., while McIlroy went a pedestrian 1-1-2. All the news are from wholesale golf clubs.

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