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Mickelson backs Woods to fight back at Sawgrass

Tiger Woods will never be underestimated by Phil Mickelson © Getty Images

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Phil Mickelson has backed Tiger Woods to come out fighting as his world No. 1 spot comes under threat at the Players Championship this week.

Victory for Mickelson at Sawgrass would leave Woods needing a top-five finish to retain his position at the summit of the golfing world. Yet, by the look of his practice round on Tuesday, Woods is in no mood to be launching an assault on the top of the leaderboard.

The 14-time Major winner suffered the ignominy of missing the cut during his most recent outing at Quail Hollow, where Rory McIlroy had certain critics predicting a changing of the guard in the world of golf. Woods insists his game is getting better ahead of Sawgrass, following months of soul-searching in his private life, and Mickelson is certainly not going to overlook his compatriot as a major rival later this week.

"I have seen him hit shots that I don't know if anybody else in the world could ever possibly hit," Mickelson said. "He is an incredible player and talent and he has one of the most impressive records, if not the most impressive, in the history of the game.

"I won't ever underestimate him. Regardless of what he did last week, knowing the competitor he is I expect him to come back and be the Tiger that we are used to seeing on the golf course."

On Sunday McIlroy became the youngest winner on the PGA Tour since Woods 14 years ago by capturing the Quail Hollow Championship with a course record ten-under-par 62 just two days before his 21st birthday. The Northern Ireland starlet is inevitably being compared to the world No. 1, but Woods believes McIlroy is ahead of where he was in his career at the same age.

"I have never played with Rory but I have seen him hit balls and watched him on the TV and he is pretty impressive," he said. "You don't have to win right away just make sure you keeping improving each and every year.

"I never hit the ball that far. I didn't turn pro until I was 21 he was pro at 17. I wasn't even ready to turn pro at that age. But it is not easy winning major championships and the hardest thing is to keep improving.

"The game has evolved with the advent of technology. These kids are able to view their swings on a video camera and make improvements so much faster and younger. You see these guys with wonderful swings at an earlier age."

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