If you think the game of golf is all about talent and top-notch gear, think again. It takes a lot of mental strength, and that goes for everyone, even the legends. Just ask Justin Rose, who learned this firsthand when he competed against Tiger Woods during the 2007 BMW Championship. Back in 2007, at Cog Hill, Rose was right there in the mix with Woods. He was having a solid round—three under through six, while Woods was just one stroke ahead at four under.

“We’re chit-chatting, and we’re having a good time. We’re talking about the Bahamas and this, that, and the other. And I’m like, oh my gosh, this is great. Tiger was my best friend. It’s a perfect season,” Rose remembered.

But then, something changed. As they made the turn, Woods went into another gear. “It was like, goodbye,” Rose said, still amazed. Woods shifted into focus mode—his walk slowed, his routine tightened up, and even his breathing seemed more deliberate.

“And it was the greatest lesson I’ve ever had because he did everything so much slower. He locked in. His eyes just went. Obviously, his routine was good, but he walked slower. He just absolutely lazered in and put together a great back-and-around win in the tournament.” What hit Rose the hardest wasn’t just Woods’s ability to close, but the timing of it all. Early on, Woods was relaxed, just easing into things. But when it mattered, he flipped the switch and upped his intensity.

“I was like, that’s how it’s done. That’s proper. Because the intensity of the early part of the round probably suited him too. Relaxed. Free. Get off to a good start. Because sometimes that deep intensity from hole one doesn’t serve you well either.”

Well, maybe this incident was the reminder for the one-time major winner that golf isn’t just about talent. It’s about knowing when to turn it up and when to let it flow. Woods didn’t just play to win; he played the mental game like no one else. And well hearing stories about Woods from his rivals is always fun.

Woods’s peer explained how his presence felt on the course

Woods is a man of few words. He’s not the type to engage in constant chatter, but while his words may be limited, his presence speaks volumes. During an appearance on the Par 3 podcast, six-time PGA Tour winner Hunter Mahan explained how Woods’s aura on the course was enough to make his competitors feel uneasy.

Mahan described it as an almost overwhelming intensity. “You’re in the sports field. It’s like it’s an intense place, it’s like guys are going be a little chippy, but like he really used that to his advantage, like he stepped on that tee and there was an intimidation, there was an intensity that was very unknown to everybody and he used that in a huge huge way because everyone was very uncomfortable about it and they couldn’t do anything about it there, nothing about it,” Mahan said.

Arron Oberholser, another one of Woods’s rivals, has shared a similar experience with the intimidating aura the 15x major winner brought to the course. He recalled the feeling of being physically intimidated for the first time when shaking Woods’ hand. “He’s always the last one on the tee. We’re waiting, thinking he’s going to miss his tee time, and then here he comes. But he’s not looking at you—he’s looking through you as he shakes your hand like you’re not even there. That was the first time I truly felt physically intimidated by another person. I had to quickly re-gather myself and remind myself I had a job to do,” Oberholser said back in 2020.

Whether he was flipping the switch when it mattered or letting his intensity speak for him, Woods really changed the game when it came to being a competitor. It wasn’t just about his skills—it was the way he controlled the course mentally that set him apart.