A report into the tipping generosity of golf’s biggest names revealed a stark difference between two of the sport’s biggest rivals in the PGA Tour’s Tiger Woods and LIV Golf’s Phil Mickelson

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are two of golf’s greatest and most succesful players, and with their success has unsurprisingly earned plenty of prize money.

When it comes to tipping, though, it appears the pair have differing styles despite their similar winnings. Despite leaving the PGA Tour to join LIV Golf in June 2022, six-time major champion Mickelson is the American-based circuit’s second highest all-time earner, having banked £75.9 million ($96.6m) in prize money.

And having walked away from the PGA Tour to join the Saudi-backed circuit, Mickelson’s earnings have only improved, having been reportedly handed a whopping £160 million ($200m) to sign on the dotted line with Greg Norman and co.

Since making the LIV switch, Mickelson has failed to find his best form, but has still manage to make just over £4 million in prize money in just over two seasons. With his riches has come generosity, with a report from ESPN’s Rick Reilly in 2014 highlighting his willingness to leave hefty tips.

Per the report, Mickelson has been known to leave $100 bills at children’s lemonade stands, while offering the same amount to lucky car valets. Most notably the LIV star was once reportedly seen hugging employees of Augusta National Golf Club when Mickelson won his first Masters green jacket in 2004, who were in tears.

The employees in question were members of the general locker room, who were sad to see Lefty move to the champions changing area the year later due to being known for handed out $1,000 dollar tips. The same however can not be said for his great rival Woods though.

According to the ESPN column, the 82-time PGA Tour champion is said to be much tighter with his tipping despite his remarkable wealth. Amid his success on the golf course, an iconic sponsorship with Nike Golf and other off-course business ventures, Woods’ net worth is said to be £864 million ($1.1bn) according to Forbes.

In PGA Tour events Woods has made £95 million ($121m) during his career – more than any other player -, not to mention a whole host of bonuses, including the recently introduced Player Impact Programme. And during his time donning the iconic Nike swoosh, the golf icon is said to have made upwards £393 million ($500m) thanks to the partnership that ended in January

When it comes to paying a little extra for service though, the 15-time major champion does not follow the same ethos as Mickelson having even been ranked as the No. 1 worst celebrity tipper by the Miami New Times back in 2011. According to the ranking Woods has one excuse for his lack of tipping – he does not carry cash.