4 reasons why Phil will upset Tiger in The Match

It's easy to look at Tiger Woods versus Phil Mickelson on paper and want to immediately hand the 14-time major winner the $9-million prize. Woods won the Tour Championship two months ago while Mickelson finished dead last, another in the countless number of times throughout their careers where Woods has come out on top.

However, anything can happen in an 18-hole match-play event, especially with The Match's unique dynamic. The betting market lists Woods as a -200 favorite, and a gambling man like Mickelson would say the underdog is worth the risk.

Here's why Lefty will pull off the upset in Las Vegas.

Cash game dominance

Mickelson's reputation in practice-round cash games on Tour is well documented, and Paul Azinger once described him as "virtually unbeatable" with money on the line. The Match will include all the aspects of a cash game that Phil is accustomed to winning. From side bets to mind games, he'll know exactly when to pick his spots to put extra pressure on his opponent. Expect Mickelson to be in Woods' ear all day long, doing whatever he can to get under his rival's skin.

Mickelson is the greatest showman

If there's a single PGA Tour pro who lives for the spotlight, it's Phil. He's a born entertainer who loves the camera and always seems to dish out perfect one-liners. This shot at this year's The Northern Trust is a perfect example of Mickelson's showmanship:

A mic'd-up Lefty should play well in a setting full of banter and smack talk, whereas Tiger may be on edge.

Will to win

It's tough to determine who wants to win more between the two competitors, but it's safe to assume a victory would be important for Mickelson's ego. He's always played second fiddle to Woods in terms of wins, majors, money, and media attention, and he's never had the opportunity to prove himself in a one-on-one situation. It was evident in Tuesday's press conference how serious Mickelson is taking the match and how much he wants to win, admitting after years of losing to Tiger that this is finally his chance to "get a little something back."

Lefty loves birdies

Birdies are king in match play, and Mickelson makes a ton of them due to his aggressive style of play. He ranked sixth on Tour in birdies-or-better percentage in 2018, the second time he's sat inside the top 10 in the statistic in the last three years. Phil's aggressive nature can also lead to the occasional double-bogey, but those aren't nearly as detrimental in a match-play format as they are in stroke play.