Tiger wins close duel at Doral
Tiger Woods returned to No. 1 in the world Sunday.
Phil Mickelson made him earn it.
In a titanic battle on the Blue Monster before a sellout crowd in Miami, Woods made a 30-foot birdie putt on the 17th, then held his breath as the resilient Mickelson nearly chipped in for birdie on the final hole. After four hours of dramatic shifts in momentum and thunderous cheers, Woods ended a spectacular duel with a 6-foot par putt.
That gave him a 6-under 66 for a one-shot victory in the Ford Championship at Doral, putting Woods back at No. 1 in the world ranking for the first time since September.
“What a day,” Woods said in utter relief. “If you’re not nervous on a day like this, you’re not alive.”
Mickelson was alive and kicking.
After Woods carried a 3-wood some 290 yards to set up an eagle on the par-5 12th and take the lead for the first time, Lefty answered with back-to-back birdies. Needing a birdie to force a playoff, and possibly win on the 18th, his 30-foot chip was good until the final inch, when it tailed to the right and caught the lip.
“I’m a little ticked at myself for not getting it done,” Mickelson said after his 69. “I knew I was playing well enough to win. I believe I should have won, certainly could have won. And I just hope that I have another shot soon. I hope that the next time we play, we both play well again and get in the last group. Because this was fun competing against him.”
Woods, who earned $990,000 for his second victory of the year, finished at 24-under 264 to break by one shot the tournament record at Doral, previously held by Jim Furyk (2000) and Greg Norman (1993). This is the sixth PGA Tour event where Woods has at least a share of the 72-hole record.
Vijay Singh, who had been No. 1 the last 26 weeks after beating Woods in a Labor Day duel outside Boston, closed with a 66 to finish third, five shots behind, along with Zach Johnson (67).
Mickelson’s streak of 10 consecutive rounds atop the leaderboard ended, but not without a gutsy fight.
It was only the third time Woods and Mickelson have played against each other in the final round, and Woods improved to 3-0. The other two times were the 2001 Masters, where Woods had a one-shot lead; and the 2003 Buick Invitational, where Woods was two ahead of Mickelson.
It might not be the last time. Woods and Mickelson now have two victories each this year, and are clearly playing better than anyone as big tournaments loom, including the start of the majors.
European PGA Tour
Ernie Els eagled the final hole to win the Dubai (United Arab Emirates) Desert Classic for the third time with a one-stroke victory over Miguel Angel Jimenez, who had led for most of the tournament.
Els shot a 4-under-par 68 and finished at 19-under 269 in capturing his first title of 2005. He also won in Dubai in 1994 and 2002.
“This win is really important for me, as this is my startup to the Masters in April,” Els said.
Jimenez, a five-time winner on the European tour in 2004, reached the green in two on the par-5 18th but settled for par. The Spaniard missed a birdie putt from 10 feet and shared second with Stephen Dodd of Wales, who finished with a 66 for a 270.
Colin Montgomerie of Scotland shot a bogey-free 69 and followed at 272. European Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam of Wales closed with a 69 for 282.
LPGA Tour
Annika Sorenstam rallied to win her first LPGA Tour event of the year, shooting a 4-under 68 in windy conditions for a three-stroke victory in the inaugural MasterCard Classic in Huixquilucan, Mexico.
Sorenstam had eight birdies – five in a row on Nos. 2-6 – to offset four bogeys in the strong wind on the high-altitude Bosque Real Country Club course.
The Swedish star, also playing for the first time since filing for divorce from David Esch, won her 57th LPGA Tour title, finishing at 7-under 209. Last year, she won eight tour events and two international titles.
Karrie Webb had a 70 to finish second. Wendy Ward, from Edwall, Wash., shot a 2-over par 74 to finish at 220, 4-over par.
The tournament was the first LPGA Tour event in Mexico since 1975.