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Tiger on a high-stakes round with Phil: 'I'm definitely not against that'

Sam Greenwood / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Phil Mickelson made headlines Tuesday morning for a jocular remark about playing Tiger Woods in a one-on-one round ahead of their grouping at The Players Championship.

"Why don't we just bypass all the ancillary stuff of a tournament and just go head-to-head and just have a high-stakes, winner-take-all match," Mickelson said with a laugh, adding, "Now I just don't know if he wants a piece of me."

When it was his time to meet the press, Woods played along.

"I'm definitely not against that," he said, smiling from ear-to-ear. "We'll play for whatever makes him uncomfortable."

Woods wasn't done there, taking every opportunity to good-naturedly needle his rival of over two decades. When a reporter noted that the head-to-head record between the two players is quite even, the 79-time PGA Tour winner was quick with a witty response.

"Well first of all, big picture. How many times have we won on Tour? Oh yeah," Woods joked to the roaring laughter of everyone assembled. "No, no, it's going to be fun playing with him again. We've done this throughout our careers. We've always looked at each other and said, 'Where is he on the board?' It's what Arnold (Palmer) and Jack (Nicklaus) used to do all the time."

The two golfers haven't always had a cordial relationship, but Woods admitted they've become closer in recent years due to team competitions like the Ryder and Presidents Cup.

"Phil and I have a great banter, we give each other needle, we always have, but I certainly think our relationship has gotten a lot closer with me being a vice-captain on the last couple teams," Woods said of the 43-time Tour winner.

While there may not be a head-to-head bet on the line for Thursday's and Friday's rounds at TPC Sawgrass, two legends battling it out makes for must-see TV. Even the third member of their group, Rickie Fowler, admitted to Josh Berhow of Golf.com that he's fired up to watch them play, saying: "I've got the best seat in the house."

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