Phil Mickelson overhauled playing partner Sean O'Hair with a
consummate exhibition of golf to clinch his 31st PGA Tour title by
two shots at the Players Championship on Sunday.
One behind O'Hair at the start of a muggy day at the Tournament
Players Club Sawgrass, Mickelson fired a three-under-par 69 to
triumph for the first time in the Tour's flagship event.
The American left-hander, competing in his third tournament
since switching allegiance to swing coach Butch Harmon, could
afford the luxury of a bogey at the par-four last to finish at
11-under 277.
Compatriot O'Hair duelled with Mickelson for most of the day
before twice finding water at the infamous par-three 17th en route
to a 76 and 11th place at six under.
Spaniard Sergio Garcia, six strokes off the pace at the start of
the day and never in contention for the title, birdied four of the
last five holes for a 66 to finish runner-up at nine under.
"I'm excited about the outcome," a beaming Mickelson told
reporters after claiming his second victory of the year and the
winner's cheque for $1.62 million.
"My ball striking seemed to get better as the week went on. I'm
on the right path and the things that I'm doing are correct.
"I should be ready to take on the ultimate challenge of
Oakmont," he added, referring to next month's US Open.
Paid tribute
Mickelson, who missed only four fairways out of 14 in the final
round while reaching 16 of 18 greens in regulation, paid tribute to
O'Hair's performance.
"He's a tremendously talented player and I have a lot of respect
for the way he attacked the back nine and the way he attacked 17,"
the 36-year-old said. "He hit a lot of great shots today."
One behind the pacesetting O'Hair overnight, Mickelson
immediately drew level at the top of the leaderboard by rolling in
a 25-foot birdie putt at the first.
Both players then birdied the par-five second to forge four
strokes clear at 10 under as the tournament effectively became a
two-horse race.
Mickelson wasted a good opportunity to claim the outright lead
when he missed a birdie putt from inside six feet at the par-four
fifth but he made amends two holes later.
After a perfect drive and an approach to 14 feet at the par-four
seventh, he coolly sank the putt to move one stroke clear.
O'Hair did well to save par at the same hole, getting up and
down from fluffy rough beside the green, before regaining a share
of the lead with a seven-foot birdie putt at the par-five
ninth.
O'Hair dropped his first shot of the day at the par-four 10th,
finding a bunker off the tee and overshooting the green with his
approach.
Delicate wedge?
Mickelson parred the hole to regain the lead before doubling his
advantage with a birdie-four at the 558-yard 11th after hitting a
delicate pitch to three feet.
O'Hair missed a six-footer for birdie at the 16th before his
victory hopes dramatically disappeared when he twice found water
behind the island green on 17 to run up a quadruple-bogey
seven.
"I didn't bust my butt for four days to get second place and my
shot on 17 wasn't a bad shot," the 24-year-old said of his
nine-iron off the tee. "I took it right at the pin and I thought it
was good.
"Then all of a sudden I heard the crowd moan and it was in the
water. But I played well. I can't let that hole or the last hole
dictate how I played this week. I think I'm good enough to win and
I think I've proven myself."
World number one Tiger Woods began the day languishing in a tie
for 64th but ended the week with a smile on his face and a
sparkling five-under-par 67.
The putts finally began to drop for the 2001 champion who
covered the last 14 holes in seven under.
"I had a run from five through 12 where I one-putted every
hole," Woods said after tying for 37th at level-par 288.
"I knew I could shoot a round in the 60s here if I'd just make a
few putts. And I did today."
(China Daily via Agencies May 15, 2007)
