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Few had the audacity to challenge Tiger Woods during his prime, both on and off the golf course. This is something artist Rick Rush discovered, despite his reputation for flawlessly recreating famous sporting moments. The disagreement revolved around one of the former world No. 1's most iconic career moments, his first Masters title at Augusta in 1997.

The 48-year-old would go on to win an additional 14 major titles, becoming one of the most marketable stars in sports history. However, just a year after he first wore the green jacket, Jireh Publishing, owned by Rush's brother Don, released a limited-edition print of his sibling's painting depicting the golfer winning his first Masters. The prints were sold for approximately £550 each.

Lawyers for ETW, a company established by Woods to manage the marketing of his image, quickly intervened. What ensued was a five-year legal battle, where the American's temper reportedly flared.

Reports from the time suggest that Woods was insistent on enforcing his likeness rights. Consequently, Rush found himself caught in the crossfire and although a Federal District Court in Ohio initially ruled in favour of Jireh Publishing, in 2002 the star decided to sue.

His legal representatives argued that Jireh Publishing had committed trademark infringement by selling copies of the Rush painting. However, an American court ruled the following year that Rick Rush himself had not violated Woods' trademark.

Judge James Graham, delivering the verdict, stated: "ETW asks us, in effect, to constitute Woods himself as a walking, talking trademark. As a general rule, a person's image or likeness cannot function as a trademark."

Rush, now 79, hailed it as "a huge victory for freedom of expression."

The media dubbed it a triumph for 'David over Goliath', and one of the few instances where the icon didn't come out on top.

Woods, who had already won eight Major championships at the time, chose not to publicly comment on the issue. However, he would later face more serious legal issues, most notably in 2017 when he was not the defendant in court.

In May of that year, he was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs after being found asleep in his car. He subsequently pleaded guilty to reckless driving, was given a year of probation, fined nearly £200, and ordered to complete 50 hours of community service.