Michael Phelps Was Behind Tiger’s Masters Championship – Literally

Tiger Woods is back! The oft-embattled, oft-injured 43-year old golfer won his first Masters tournament in 14 years on Sunday.

So, what’s that have to do with swimming?

Golf‘s GOAT (Greatest of All-Time) Woods received support from a long-time friend in his final round: swimming’s GOAT Michael Phelps.

Eagle-eyed swimmers and swim-fans, including British World Champion James Guy, spotted Phelps behind Tiger during Sunday’s final round. During what will come away as an iconic moment from Tiger’s triumphant return to the top of a major, when Woods hit a near-hole-in-one on the 16th, cameras caught him urging his ball toward the hole – with Phelps just inches behind him.

This is one of many forays into the world of golf for Phelps – the most-decorated Olympian in history. He’s been featured on the cover of Golf Digest, has played in many celebrity and pro-am tournaments, and once made a 159 foot putt: the longest-ever televised putt, by a professional, amateur, Olympian, or otherwise.

It’s been 11 years since Tiger Woods won one of golf‘s 4 Major tournaments, and just under 3 since Michael Phelps won his last Olympic gold medal. If we couldn’t dream before, surely we can now? Maybe Phelps was inspired by his friend. Afterall, it’s been almost 3 weeks since his last public denial that he would return to the pool

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anonymous
5 years ago

Think if Tiger was like the late Babe DIckson. The pro lady golfer also did dying, track and field, and basketball. She was a medalist in track in the 1932 Olympics.

Brad Flood
Reply to  anonymous
5 years ago

Babe Didrikson Zaharias

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  anonymous
5 years ago

In the end, we all do dying.

Joel Lin
5 years ago

The clothes in that photo are hilarious. Stupid golf.

Robbos
5 years ago

Phelps say great work Tiger, that’s 15, only 8 more to equal me. Two greatest of all time in their field.

Yozhik
Reply to  Robbos
5 years ago

To win consistently in such unpredictable game as golf is greater feat than winning Olympic medal. Everybody can win against Tiger if they got extremely lucky. No luck could help winning against Phelps if you weren’t elite level swimmer.

Longhorn
Reply to  Yozhik
5 years ago

Strange comparison. I can’t even go there.

Ragnar
Reply to  Yozhik
5 years ago

The worlds greatest dog is only greater than the worlds greatest cat if the competition is who is the best dog, you can’t compare different sports dude. And you’re saying if I got extremely lucky I could beat Tiger? Maybe at procrastinating, he’d lose to me everyday!

Towelie
Reply to  Ragnar
5 years ago

no, he’s saying there’s more variance in top level competition in golf than in swimming (which just from an observer’s prospective having never golfed well at all seems to be true). At a PGA tour event like the masters someone like Tiger or Phil or Rory might win but given other factors it’s more likely someone else in the field will win. This win by Tiger broke a streak of 4 straight masters winners who had won for the first time. The masters in 2016 is Danny Willett’s only PGA tour win. In swimming you mostly know who the contenders are going to be before going in – if (and when) phelps lost a fly event between 2004-2016 it was… Read more »

Yozhik
Reply to  Towelie
5 years ago

Thanks.

anonymoose
Reply to  Ragnar
5 years ago

im sorry but even then the cat would win. the example would work with any other pet/animal than a cat tho

Horninco
5 years ago

What’s funny is that I saw that and though “that looks like Phelps” but then forgot about it in the excitement of the last three holes

Parent of Student Athlete
Reply to  Horninco
5 years ago

so awesome to see these Athletes supporting each other they know the dedication and grind and mental strength it takes to be a Champion !!!

Woke Stasi
5 years ago

: minor correction: golf’s GOAT is Jack Nicklaus. Tiger had an amazing win today. He is close to being the greatest golfer ever, but that honor remains with the “Golden Bear.”

Woke Stasi
Reply to  Woke Stasi
5 years ago

Nicklaus has won 18 major championships to Woods’ 15 (again, congratulations to Tiger!).

But here’s the statistic that displays Jack Nicklaus’ sheer dominance over his sport in major championships:

Jack finished 2nd in majors an amazing 19 times! And 3rd 11 times. For comparison, Tiger has finished 2nd 6 times, and 3rd 4 times.

If these finishes were Olympic medals, Nicklaus would have 48 total (18 gold, 19 silver, and 11 bronze), while Tiger would have 25 (15 gold, 6 silver, and 4 bronze).

Jack Nicklaus = Golf GOAT

Yozhik
Reply to  Woke Stasi
5 years ago

Tiger’s influence on the game of golf and on popularization of this game is greater than of any other player in the history. If you remember NBC was in shock when he stopped playing. There was well statistically confirmed so called “Tiger effect”, that is all golfers who were in the same tournament with him played better. At the age of 32 he won more majors than anybody else by this age. His popularity is incomparable to the one of Jack Niclaus. The only thing where Jack is superior is the number of majors won: 18 vs 15. Tiger’s impact to the sport as whole (not the golf only) is immeasurable. And some other factor for comparison is money earned.… Read more »

Woke Stasi
Reply to  Yozhik
5 years ago

@Yozhik: Tiger had a huge impact on the sport in the late 1990s through the 2000s. He made many young people from all walks of life want to take up the sport (he made it “cool”), and this was a great spur to increased equipment sales and golf course construction. A little more than a decade later when Woods’ personal life and health went to hell starting in 2008, golf viewership and participation declined.

The great financial and popularity foundation for the sport, however, was created starting in the late 1950s with the “King,” Arnold Palmer, who was then eclipsed by Jack Nicklaus beginning with Nicklaus’ playoff win over him in the 1962 US Open. Nicklaus (along with Palmer, Player,… Read more »

Yozhik
Reply to  Woke Stasi
5 years ago

Listen, I’m sorry of getting involved in this discussion of who is greater. I really am. It has never made sense to do before and doesn’t make of it now. Please, forget what I said before about Jack Nicklaus vs Tiger Woods. Jack was one of the first who congratulated Tiger, understanding importance of this win to him.

Lille
5 years ago

No comment on Sarah Sjostroms 23.91??

Sccoach
Reply to  Lille
5 years ago

Who?

Ragnar
Reply to  Lille
5 years ago

Holy cow really?

Snarky
Reply to  Lille
5 years ago

When she does that 14 years from now they will talk about her tiger-esque comback. Until then, eye on the ball Noonan.

Ol' Longhorn
5 years ago

Wonder how long til Phelps looks like the guy in the yellow cap.

Snarky
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
5 years ago

He has more style than that guy and his 70’s drapes-shirted mate standing next to him.

CROOKED HILLARY
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
5 years ago

Being 3 years removed from professional swimming he still looks pretty good.

Cate
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
5 years ago

Follow his instagram

anonymous
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
5 years ago

While no longer competitive, Phelps still works out daily citing both physical and mental benefits. I doubt he will ever look like he’s put on weight. Also, quit with the body shaming please.

Yozhik
5 years ago

As commentator said: the moment that millions were waiting for.

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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