( CNN ) -- The secret to Phil Mickelson 's recent successes against longtime rival Tiger Woods could lie with the man who has coached both golf superstars -- Butch Harmon . Harmon helped Woods to eight of his 14 major triumphs between 1993 and 2004 , and started working with Mickelson three years later . He was on hand to give the veteran left-hander tips during the pair 's final-round showdown at Pebble Beach on Sunday . Mickelson bettered his fellow American for the fifth time in a row when they have played together on the last day of a tournament to clinch his 40th PGA Tour title . Harmon , who has also worked with other top names such as former major champions Greg Norman and Fred Couples , has revealed how he gave Mickelson an insight into what to expect from former world No . 1 Woods . Mickelson roars to victory as Tiger falls apart at Pebble Beach . `` I explained to Phil some things to be aware of when playing with Tiger , '' Harmon told the tour 's official website . `` If Tiger putts out first the gallery is going to start moving ahead , so if you have a chance to putt out first it 's in your best interest to do so . `` If it 's close on the back nine , Tiger will sometimes hit three-wood on purpose to make you wait . Tiger 's not doing anything illegal , it 's just a little bit of gamesmanship . '' While four-time major winner Mickelson carded a stunning eight-under-par 64 to surge up the leaderboard and win , Woods collapsed from third to tie for 15th after a 75 . Tiger seeks 'home ' success as he announces PGA Tour triple-header . But Mickelson took the time to praise Woods , who is currently enduring the longest winless run of his career having not claimed an official tournament victory since November 2009 . `` I do n't believe anybody has benefited more from what he 's done for the game than myself , '' said Mickelson , who has outscored Woods on eight of the 12 occasions they have played together since he started working with Harmon in 2007 . `` He seems to bring out the best in me and the last four or five years . I just seem more focused. `` Mickelson also spoke of the `` little bit of inspiration '' his wife Amy -- who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 -- had given him when it looked as if the tournament was slipping away on Friday . A pep talk from her helped him overhaul a six-shot deficit on leader Charlie Wi on Sunday . `` I think it 's a good lesson for me to learn that if you never give up and you stay and you fight hard , you can fight through some bad stretches and still come out on top at the end of the week because you just never know when it 'll turn , '' he said , before acknowledging his recent lack of form . The 41-year-old finished 26th at his previous outing in Phoenix , having missed the cut at Torrey Pines and tied for 49th in his season opener at the Humana Challenge in California . `` Prior to the Humana , I had played eight to 10 rounds like Sunday 's final round , and I 've been wondering where that has been these last three weeks , '' he said ahead of Thursday 's opening round at the Northern Trust Open , where he tasted victory in 2008 and 2009 . `` I was wondering what happened those three weeks because I had been playing well prior , and I 'm just glad it finally came out when I needed it the most . ''
Tiger Woods ' ex - coach Pat Harmon gave Phil Mickelson tips on how to beat him . Harmon worked with Woods for eight of his 14 major triumphs between 1995 and 2004 . The coach has been working with four - time major winner Woods since 2004 . Mickelson has bettered Woods five times since working with him .