Hank Haney, the former coach of Tiger Woods, recently responded to an online comparison of Woods’ majors performance against that of Phil Mickelson. The comparison highlighted a striking difference between the two golfers’ combined scores in major tournaments from 1997 to 2009, prompting Haney’s brief but emphatic reaction on social media.
An X account named Shadow posted detailed statistics showing this contrast, sparking widespread attention among golf fans and commentators.
“Tiger woods in majors from 1997-2009 finished for a combined -134. The next closest person was Phil Mickelson at +99. A 233 stroke difference,” it read.
Haney shared this post with a simple caption:
“Wow”
Overview of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson’s Major Wins
Tiger Woods has secured 15 major championship victories across his career. His achievements include five Masters Tournament titles in 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, and 2019. In addition, he captured four PGA Championships in 1999, 2000, 2006, and 2007, along with three US Open championships and three Open Championships.
Phil Mickelson, although highly accomplished, has won six majors overall. He earned three Masters titles in 2004, 2006, and 2010, two PGA Championships in 2005 and 2021, and one Open Championship in 2013.
Tiger Woods Reflects on His Sole TGL Victory in 2025
In 2025, Tiger Woods did not participate in any PGA Tour events or major championships, including the Masters, a tournament where he has enjoyed multiple victories. However, he competed in five TGL (The Golf League) events with his team, Jupiter Links. The team secured only one win during the league season, defeating Boston Common Golf on January 26.
Following that victory, Woods shared his thoughts on the unique experience of playing in the TGL format, commenting on how different it was from traditional golf:
“It was definitely different than when we first played. Lesson was learned the hard way. We came in here more prepared. It is so different than normal golf, playing in a bigger screen like this or the green moving and contorting the breaks. A putt you normally — well, you hit once, automatically you already know the read, but they move the green on you. A putt that went right to left now goes left to right. Those are all little things we’ve had to learn on the fly.”
“TK was unbelievable coming in here. We did some good work the other day, and today it couldn’t have been a more pleasurable display of golf, banter. Everyone in the audience was engaged. Hopefully all the viewership were engaged. We as players loved it…This is what we had envisioned for TGL, to have an experience like this, and I think we delivered,” he added.
Emotional Significance of the Event and Woods Family
This particular TGL match was significant not only because it marked Woods’ only tournament win that year but also because it was witnessed by his mother, Kultida Woods. Sadly, she passed away shortly afterward in February 2025, adding a poignant element to the event for Woods and his family.
Impact of Tiger Woods’ Majors Performance and Future Outlook
The stark contrast in Tiger Woods majors performance comparison against Phil Mickelson, highlighted by Haney and others, underscores Woods’ dominance in golf’s most prestigious tournaments during his peak years. This statistical gap contributes to ongoing discussions about Woods’ legacy and his place among the greatest golfers.
Woods’ adaptation to new formats like TGL also shows his willingness to embrace innovation in golf, despite stepping away from traditional majors. His reflections suggest a continued commitment to the sport in evolving ways, even as his competitive focus shifts.