What is Tiger Woods versus Mickelson’s The Match all about?

Today, either Phil Mickelson or Tiger Woods will see his riches grow from the outrageous to the obscene, thanks to The Match, the long-ballyhooed, $9 million, winner-take-all, 18-hole match between two golfers who haven’t always been the best of buddies.

“It’s a ridiculous amount of money,” Mickelson told Golf’s Alan Shipnuck in August. “No matter how much money you have, this amount will take both of us out of our comfort zone.”

But think of it this way: It can also put one of them into an even more superior comfort zone.

The golfers will make side bets along the way, with those sums going to charities. That led to some headlines earlier this week when the longtime rivals wagered $200,000 on the first hole.

“I’m willing to risk $100,000 that says I birdie the first hole,” Mickelson said during a joint news conference. “So that’s how good I feel heading into this match. You don’t have to take it, but I’m going to throw that out there.”

“So you think you can make birdie on the first hole,” Woods said, to which Mickelson replied, “I know I’m going to make birdie on the first hole.”

The golfers, according to Golf.com, will be mic’d up, as will their caddies, so put earmuffs on the kiddos and enjoy.

“Double it,” Woods answered.

If that media event occasionally felt forced, just wait.

“Can you get in Phil Mickelson’s head,” Woods was asked this month.

“Well, I’ve been in Phil’s head for 20-some-odd years,” Woods replied with a laugh. “Just look at the W total.”

What: An 18-hole, winner-take-all, $9 million, mano-a-mano match-play event between two of golf’s aging yet most ferocious competitors.

These two gentlemen have had a famously frosty relationship over the years. They’ve mellowed, they love to gamble and . . . did we mention the $9 million (plus those side bets and other wagers)? “We’re going to have little challenges that can maybe get in each others’ heads,” Mickelson said during a TNT interview. “You have a downhill putt? I’ll bet you 50 Gs that you miss it.” Both players plan to donate some of the proceeds to charity, with Mickelson selecting the Children of the 58 Fund and the Las Vegas Shriners and Woods picking his own foundation and other charities.

The golfers, according to Golf.com, will be mic’d up, as will their caddies, so put earmuffs on the kiddos and enjoy.

The odds: As of early this week, bookmakers had installed Woods as a -220 favorite to win (in other words, you have to bet $220 to win $100). Mickelson is listed as a +180 underdog (bet $100 to win $180).

• Culled from washingtonpost.com