Tiger Woods vs. Phil Mickelson shows what money can buy — and what it can’t

One enduring lesson in nearly 14 years covering golf for The Chronicle: Not much compares to Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson playing alongside each other, especially in contention on Sundays.

Their spirited, simultaneous charges electrified Augusta National in the final round of the 2009 Masters, even if they both ultimately faltered. Their pairing three years later at Pebble Beach, where Mickelson uncommonly crushed Woods in the final round, created similar buzz.

Friendly reminder about Friday’s much-hyped, pay-per-view match: This is not the same. Not even close.

Woods and Mickelson will play head-to-head for $9 million, winner-take-all, and that alone will prompt a good number of people to fork over $19.99.