“My swing and my game have evolved over the years, but one thing has remained consistent: I’m always confident with an iron in my hand,” said Tiger Woods to Golf Digest. In 2020, he acknowledged that he’s no longer one of the longest hitters on the Tour and cannot consistently hit a wedge more than 150 yards like some of his peers. As a result, his iron game has become crucial to his success.

via Imago

Achieving this requires excellent distance control, which is only possible with consistent and precise contact with the ball. Well, adding to this, four years later, even Woods’s biggest rival agrees with his claim. The rivalry between Woods and Phil Mickelson has been one for the books. However, despite their battles in the course, both have made sure to complement each other when due.

In the latest YouTube video of Grant Horvat Golf, Phil Mickelson appeared as a guest. Lefty hit a shot with his irons, and it went straight into the bunker. That was when he stated how it is important to hit your long iron high. He said, “That’s why Tiger was so great at him because he had the speed to get that ball so high and come in vertical that right he could get ball stopped on some of these greens that others just couldn’t”.

But he also went on to add that current top players like LIV Golfer Bryson DeChambeau and World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler have taken the same trick. But their high spin is a lot better than Woods, with exceptional swing speed. “They have incredible speed”, added Lefty. And well there is no doubt that they are indeed working out. Fans would regard Scheffler as one of the GOATS now since he has also spent over 100 weeks as #1, but Tiger Woods’s 683-week-long record is not an easy ordeal to defeat.

However, there is also no doubt regarding the claims made by either Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson. His last career win so far is a standing testament to it.

Tiger Woods’s long iron approach helped him win the 2019 Masters

Tiger Woods defeated Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, and Xander Schauffele at the 2019 Masters by a one-stroke lead. Having carded two bogeys and a birdie in the first six holes on Sunday, he was in dire need of a birdie on the seventh hole to have a fresh start for the round. “I hit my trusted low, trapping fade to tap-in range,” said Woods. He did end up carding the birdie on the par-4 hole, which was followed by another birdie, leading his score to a 1-under in the front nine. Despite this, Brooks Koepka and Xander Schauffele were still tied with him. That was when he knew he had to take charge in the back nine.

Unfortunately, it began with a bogey. After carding two birdies, he knew he needed another birdie on the sixteenth hole to steer clear of the victory. “Then on 16, I hit a high-draw 8-iron that plopped down in the perfect spot, took the slop,e and finished about three feet from the cup,” he added. This was what gave him a two-shot lead at the Augusta National, and he had full control over the tournament.

However, he concluded, “Note that one of those shots was a low fade and the other a high draw.” Whatever it was, it sure did work. Alas, it has been his last victory in over 5 years now. Do you think after all these surgeries, he will be able to clinch a trophy soon? Let us know in the comments section below!