When Jon Rahm asked Tiger Woods for putting tips, Tiger looked at him and said, “It’s all about feel.” That was it. No follow-up. No drills. No grip advice. Just five vague words and a walk-away.
Meanwhile, Justin Thomas was getting full-blown dissertations on stroke tempo and green speed — sometimes via late-night text, sometimes face-to-face, but always with the unmistakable tone of brotherly love.
This isn’t just a funny contrast. It’s the story of how the most dominant golfer of our era mentors the next generation — very selectively.
Some guys get the playbook. Others get the polite nod.
Let’s unpack who made the cut, what Tiger actually shared, and why some of the game’s biggest names are still waiting on their Woods wisdom.
Justin Thomas: The Chosen One
Tiger didn’t just like Justin Thomas — he brought him into the circle.
He flew Thomas to California on his private jet. Partnered with him at the PNC. Texted him before big events. And, most importantly, gave it to him straight.
After one round together, Thomas asked for honest feedback. Tiger’s response?
“You don’t have near enough shots.”
That kind of blunt honesty wasn’t a jab. It was a gift. It meant Tiger saw something in him — potential worth shaping, even if it meant a little tough love.
Thomas soaked it up. Before winning The Players Championship, he leaned hard on Tiger’s advice to “stay patient.” It wasn’t technical, but it was timely. And for Thomas, it stuck.
Jon Rahm: Outside the Bubble
Now let’s talk about Jon Rahm — major winner, dominant force, total Tiger fanboy.
Rahm wanted a piece of the mentorship, but what he got instead was… vibes.
At East Lake in 2017, Rahm asked Tiger how to handle the grainy Bermuda greens. Tiger looked at him and said,
“It’s all about feel.”
Then walked off.
Later, at the Hero World Challenge, Tiger watched Rahm putt and said,
“You just got to be shallow.”
Compare that to the multi-paragraph monologues Thomas was getting on the same topic, and the message is pretty clear: Rahm was on the outside looking in.
Bryson DeChambeau: Encouragement, Not Instruction
DeChambeau got something in between. Not full mentorship, but not full exile either. Let’s call it Tiger Lite — mostly via text.
Before the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Bryson woke up to a message from Tiger:
“Keep moving forward.”
Simple, heartfelt, and just enough to mean something. In 2025, DeChambeau talked about using Tiger’s “bubble” strategy — staying mentally isolated under pressure — to survive the mental chaos of tournament golf.
That kind of advice doesn’t come from just anywhere. But it’s not the deep, strategic breakdown Thomas was getting. Still, it mattered. Even if things cooled after Bryson’s LIV Golf move, that earlier support stuck with him.
Max Homa: Pep Talk on the Tee Box
Max Homa never got full mentorship either, but every now and then, Tiger dropped something memorable.
During a round at St. Andrews in 2022, Tiger turned to Homa and asked how many PGA Tour wins he had. Homa told him. Tiger paused, looked him in the eye, and said:
“You should’ve won a lot more than that.”
It wasn’t a joke. It wasn’t trash talk. It was Tiger’s way of saying, “You’ve got more in the tank — go prove it.”
And if you’ve followed Homa’s journey since, it’s clear he took that message to heart.
Tiger also lit up their Jupiter Links group chat in the TGL with motivational jabs and leadership — not formal instruction, but still influential.
Others in the Orbit: Close, But Not Inside
A few other players have caught brief flashes of Tiger’s attention:
- Webb Simpson once received a congratulatory text after shooting 62 — a rare “good job” from Tiger, signed with the meaning-loaded phrase, “See. It works.”
- Marcus Taylor, an amateur, got a random conversation with Woods that left him thinking deeply about mindset and consistency.
- And then there are the countless others who didn’t get anything. No texts. No tips. Just a polite nod at the range and the lingering sense that Tiger only opens the door if he really trusts you.
Why Tiger Keeps the Circle Small
Here’s the unfiltered truth: Tiger Woods is generous with his knowledge — but only if you’ve earned it.
He seems to pick his mentees based on three unspoken rules:
- Personal Connection
Like JT, who he treats like a little brother. That kind of bond opens the floodgates. - Mutual Trust
If Tiger thinks you’ll keep his advice private — and not blast it in a press conference — you might get more than just a head nod. - Respect for the Game
Tiger doesn’t waste words. If he thinks you’re all talk or all ego, he’s probably not handing you the blueprint.
So while golf fans love the idea of Tiger passing the torch, the reality is more nuanced. The torch isn’t passed — it’s earned. And even then, he might only pass you a spark.
“You don’t have near enough shots.” — Tiger Woods, to Justin Thomas
