Love, money, revenge and reward – just some of the biggest motivating factors in any victory.

But for Phil Mickelson it seems that when it comes to getting himself psyched up for run-of-the-mill PGA Tour events – none of the above can get his gearbox roaring.

Even the prospect of overtaking Tiger Woods at the top, finally reaching No.1 in the world – the best player in golf – was not enough to motivate Lefty to victory at a Tigerless Colonial.

So what does it for him? What does it take to inspire Mickelson to those jaw-dropping, fist pumping victories that see him pull off superman-style heroics from pine needles and drop eagles and birdies like there’s no tomorrow?

Tiger Woods.

It seems Mickelson saves the best of his performances for the events in which he will go head-to-head with Woods. Of the last five tournaments in which they both featured, Mickelson has come out on top in all five – winning the Tour Championship, WGC HSBC Champions and, of course, the Masters. He was then second at Quail Hollow – where Woods missed the cut – and tied for 17^th at the Players, where Mickelson slumped to a final round 74 just hours after Woods withdrew with a neck injury.

Coincidence? Maybe. However, on those results, paired with the fact that Mickelson missed the cut at Colonial – another Tigerless event – it would appear that for Lefty, the biggest motivation is getting the better of Woods.

Like all good rivalries, winning isn’t quite so fun unless you can boast getting one over on your nemesis. For the Old Firm a league title victory isn’t quite so sweet without at least one drubbing of their Glasgow rivals, for Lewis Hamilton, a podium finish doesn’t merit a champagne spray unless Jenson Button is a few inches down the rostrum and for Tyson Gay, winning gold isn’t winning gold unless he beats Usain Bolt.

The same goes for Tiger and Phil, after all, it wouldn’t be much fun for Mickelson to snatch the world No.1 spot from Woods if the 14-time major winner wasn’t there to see it for himself.