Sports

Tiger vs. Phil good for golf

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — You didn’t need to be walking the hallowed grounds of Pebble Beach alongside Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in their final-round pairing Sunday to feel that precious surge of energy we get every so often in sports.

The electric current that emanated from that dream pairing on one of the most iconic golf courses in America could be felt through television sets across the globe. It could be felt inside the PGA Tour offices and in television network offices.

Mickelson, capturing his first tournament victory since last spring, was a winner.

Woods, who hasn’t won an official event in nearly 30 months, was a loser.

Most important, golf was the biggest winner, because its two biggest stars, whose respective performances had been suspect for a prolonged period of time, leading to speculation they were on career decline, starred.

No disrespect to the likes of Kyle Stanley, who weaved a terrific story earlier this year by blowing a big lead one week and winning the next, or Brandt Snedeker and Mark Wilson, earlier winners on tour this season, but they do not move the needle in golf.

These players, who are not stars of the game, do not send sports fans running to the TV sets on Sundays.

Woods and Mickelson do.

Golf needs Woods.

“As PGA Tour players, we definitely need Tiger out here,’’ said Charlie Wi, the 54-hole leader and eventual runner-up at Pebble Beach. “He drives the tour. It’s very important for him to be competing and being near the lead all the time, because that drives viewers and that’s what helps us with our retirement fund.’’

Mickelson needs Woods.

Minutes after what he described one of the most emotional victories of his 40-win career, Mickelson gushed about Woods after beating him down by an unfathomable 11 shots Sunday, revealing that he’s “inspired’’ when he plays with Woods.

“I hope that he continues to play better and better, and I hope he and I have a chance to play together more in final rounds,’’ Mickelson said.

Mickelson has outperformed Woods in each of the last five times they’ve been paired together in a final round, winning three times in that stretch.

“Although although I feel like he brings out the best in me, it’s only been the past five years,’’ Mickelson said. “Before, I got spanked pretty good. Let’s not forget the big picture here, I’ve been beat up. But the last five years, I’ve been able to get some of my best golf out when we play together.’’

Mickelson is a big-picture guy, an astute athlete who cares deeply about the state of the game he plays and where it’s going. He’s also a realist who acknowledges how fortunate he is because of what Woods has brought to the game.

“I’m just very appreciative of what he’s meant to the game of golf over the years,’’ Mickelson said. “I don’t believe anybody has benefitted more from what he’s done for the game than myself.’’

Another intriguing subplot kicking the Woods-Mickelson rivalry up a notch is the Butch Harmon factor.

Harmon, who was Woods’ first swing coach as a pro and was with Woods during his early dominance, has been coaching Mickelson for the last few years.

Is it mere coincidence that, since Harmon began working with Mickelson that Mickelson has not lost to Woods in a final-round pairing, that Harmon has imparted some secrets to beating Woods to Mickelson?

“Possibly,’’ Mickelson said with a wry smile that screamed, You bet he has!

“I’ve always enjoyed playing with Phil,’’ Woods insisted Sunday. “We have always battled since the first time we went at it head to head. We were in a position [Sunday] that we needed to go get Charlie [Wi]. We were four back, and had to go get him and Phil did.’’

Phil got Tiger, too. And you better believe that was not lost on Woods.

Woods’ body language on the back nine Sunday told you he couldn’t wait to get off the course and get away from all the Mickelson adulation that was taking place.

The tease here is that the chance of getting more Tiger-Phil final-round duels isn’t great because of the percentages. The two sometimes don’t play in the same events. For example, Mickelson is playing the Northern Trust Open this week and Woods is not and the following week Woods is playing the World Match Play and Mickelson is not.

The next chance to see the two go at it against each other will be at Doral in early March.

Then, of course, there is the Masters, where both own multiple Green Jackets and both will favorites to win.

mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com