Tiger, Mickelson share mutual respect ahead of 1st Masters together since '15

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson share an intense competitive rivalry that spans over two decades. So, when the two began to practically gush over one another Tuesday, people took notice.

"He's very, very competitive; he's feisty, he's determined," Woods said following his practice round, according to Bob Harig of ESPN. "He always wants to win. It has served him well. He believes in himself an awful lot. And you see the chances he's taken over the years; the reason why he does that is because he knows he can do it and he has that belief.

"That's why he's won so many tournaments, that's why he's won so many major championships, is that he truly believes he can pull it off. That's what you have to have. You have to have that belief."

Mickelson and Woods will be teeing it up at the Masters for the first time since 2015, as Woods has been dealing with much talked about injury issues and hasn't competed at the tournament in the past two years. However, that hasn't diminished the admiration Mickelson has for his career-long rival.

"Nobody respects and appreciates what he's done for the game more than me," said Mickelson, who partnered with Woods during the practice round.

"I texted him a while ago when he was playing at Valspar. It was like a different time continuum," Mickelson said. "I felt myself pulling so hard for him. It was unusual. I want him to play well. I am excited to see him play so well. And he is playing well."

Woods and Phil played a nine-hole practice round earlier in the day with Fred Couples and Thomas Pieters, in which they were paired together, going 7-under through a five-hole stretch.