Mickelson claims one-stroke victory

Phil Mickelson made a 9-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a one-stroke victory at the Crowne Plaza Invitational over Tim Clark and Rod Pampling, who led by two strokes going to the back nine Sunday at Fort Worth, Texas.

It was the 34th career victory for Mickelson, who began the final round with a one-stroke lead. But like he did the day before, Mickelson fell behind before regaining the lead on his final putt of the day.

Mickelson had a closing 2-under 68 to finish at 14-under 266. Mickelson won at Colonial in 2000, and has won 11 tournaments multiple times.

After saving par out of a greenside bunker at 188-yard 16th, Pampling still led by a stroke.

But on the ensuing drive at the 382-yard 17th, Pampling (68) hit the ball way right toward a ditch. He had to take a penalty stroke after a drop – though that put his ball where it could be seen rather than buried in heavy rough at the edge of a concrete gully. He managed to get the approach shot into a bunker, then blasted to 4 feet, pushing both arms in the air before tapping in the bogey. That came after Mickelson had two-putted from 28 feet for par.

As Mickleson and Pampling were finishing No. 17, Clark’s 14-foot birdie chance at the closing hole curled just short and he finished with a round of 66.

Stephen Ames (70) finished fourth at 269, a stroke ahead of Ben Crane (67).

Champions Tour

Jay Haas overcame a shaky putter during a topsy-turvy final round that bordered on the surreal – this was unmercifully stingy Oak Hill after all – to hang on and win his second Senior PGA Championship in three years, at Rochester, N.Y.

Haas endured a five-bogey, one-birdie round of 74 to finish the tournament at 7-over 287 and claim the $360,000 first prize.

Bernhard Langer, the third-round leader, finished second, a shot back after posting a 76 that he began with a double-bogey after striking a spectator with his opening tee shot.

Scott Hoch, Joey Sindelar and 1987 U.S. Open-winner Scott Simpson finished tied for third, two shots back.

Haas was part of the final threesome – with Langer and local favorite Jeff Sluman – that played the East Course 18 over par on Sunday.

LPGA Tour

Leta Lindley stared in disbelief when the putt disappeared into the cup, and who could blame her?

Lindley’s Corning (N.Y.) Classic-winning birdie came on the first hole of a playoff – her first career victory in her 295th professional start on tour.

Lindley, who lost a two-hole playoff with Chris Johnson at the 1997 McDonald’s Championship, won $225,000 to boost her earnings for the year to $332,814.