Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson not ready to relinquish stage to young stars

Tiger Woods will play alongside Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas on Thursday and Friday at the Genesis Open. That’s a cool contrast — Woods competing against much younger players who were inspired by his transcendent success early in his career.

Phil Mickelson, similarly, will play in the same group as Jordan Spieth and Xander Schauffele. Mickelson, at 48, is a generation ahead of Spieth and Schauffele (both are 25), old enough to be their father.

This is one of golf’s enduring beauties, recreationally and, to some extent, at the game’s highest level. Age is no barrier. Generations connect on the course. And maybe they even grapple for major championships.