Mickelson Outlasts Woods

Phil Mickelson dismissed David Duval early and held off Tiger Woods late to win the Mercedes Championships on Sunday for the second time in five years.

Mickelson gave up his 54-hole lead with a three-putt green on the first hole - missing a 2-footer after twice being bothered by a ringing cellular phone on the first tee - but made birdies on Nos. 3 and 4 to pull away from Duval, who was trying to become the first person since Ben Hogan in 1953 to win four consecutive PGA Tour starts.

Then Mickelson made four birdies in five holes beginning on No. 9 to stay ahead of Woods, who was playing three groups in front of Mickelson and was lighting up the La Costa course and electrifying the crowd with a 64.

Despite some shaky play on the closing holes, Mickelson finished with 68 in the final round to be at 17-under-par 271, one stroke ahead of Woods and Mark O’Meara.

Duval shot a 73 and finished at 277, six strokes off the lead.

“This was an important day for me,” Mickelson said. “I knew some guys were going to go low, but I didn’t know who they were going to be,” he said.

It was the 27-year-old Mickelson’s 12th victory as a professional and it was the seventh time he has won on the West Coast swing in his career.

It was also the sixth time in seven tries he has taken the lead into the final round and won.

Nick Price and John Cook tied for fourth at 13-under-par 275.

Duval lost the momentum of his incredible four-tournament run early in the round and was never able to get it back. He missed an 18-inch birdie putt on the first hole and a 4-footer for birdie on No. 2.