
In 2001, Tiger Woods was at the peak of his powers. He’d just completed the Tiger Slam after his wonderful victory at the 2001 Masters, his fourth consecutive Major victory following successes at the US Open, Open Championship and PGA Championship in 2000.
Phil Mickelson, meanwhile, was a prolific winner on the PGA Tour but he’d yet to land one of the game’s big four. His first PGA Tour title came as an amateur at the 1991 Northern Telecom Open and he added 16 more between then and the 2000 Tour Championship.