Mickelson dominates

After posting the lowest total of his career and finishing with the fourth-best score in relation to par in PGA Tour history, Phil Mickelson faced a big question:

Does he have anything left for the Masters this week?

For those who chased Mickelson in the BellSouth Classic in Duluth, Ga., the answer was daunting.

“It was a great week, don’t get me wrong, but I didn’t feel like it couldn’t be repeated,” he said.

“I don’t feel like I don’t have more made putts or more iron shots in me or more drives in the fairway. I feel like I’m starting to play well. … I expect to do the same, or I hope to do the same, at least.”

Mickelson made a 24-foot eagle putt on No. 18 to cap his dominant, wire-to-wire victory Sunday with a score worthy of being remembered as more than just a Masters momentum-builder.

Mickelson’s final-round 65 gave him a 28-under 260 total – a tournament record and also a personal mark – and a 13-stroke victory. Andy Bean (1979) and Dave Barr (1987) had 265 totals in the BellSouth. Mickelson’s previous low 72-hole total in any tournament was 262 in the 2004 Bob Hope Classic.

Mickelson was three strokes away from the PGA Tour-record 31 under by Ernie Els in the 2003 Mercedes Championship on a par-73 course.

Mickelson, the 2004 Masters champion, will try to become the first player since Sandy Lyle in 1988 to win the Masters after winning the previous week. Art Wall in 1959 and Sam Snead in 1949 also had PGA Tour wins the week before winning in Augusta.

“I feel as though I’m starting to get really sharp as far as distance control and some of the areas I’ve been working on,” Mickelson said. “I think those areas are going to be critical next week for a good performance at Augusta, especially given the changes and how difficult it’s playing.”

Jose Maria Olazabal and Zach Johnson tied for second at 15-under 273.

“That’s just unbelievable,” Johnson said. “I mean, 13 shots better. That was complete domination.”

Champions Tour

Morris Hatalsky won his first Champions Tour title in nearly three years, closing with a 2-under 70 for a one-stroke victory over Scott Simpson in the Blue Agave Golf Classic in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

The 54-year-old Hatalsky, who won the last of his two tour titles at the Columbus Southern Open in May 2003, had a 9-under 207 total on the Jack Nicklaus-designed Vista Vallarta Golf Club course. He earned $240,000.

Simpson also shot a 70. He bogeyed No. 17 and parred the 18th after missing a 6-foot birdie try.

Mike Reid (70) and Gil Morgan (71) tied for third at 7 under, Tom Kite (69) followed at 6 under, and R.W. Eaks (70) and Mark Johnson (71) were another stroke back.

European Tour

Defending champion Paul Broadhurst birdied the final hole to beat fellow Englishman Anthony Wall by one stroke at the Algarve Open in Portimao, Portugal.

Broadhurst finished at 17-under 271, after both he and Wall shot 5-under 67 in the final round.