Mickelson wins duel at Doral
DORAL, Fla. – With his best chance at winning a World Golf Championship title, Phil Mickelson broke into a cold sweat and couldn’t stop shaking. And this was 18 hours before his tee time.
Once he got onto the Blue Monster, Mickelson looked better than ever.
Weakened and dehydrated by a stomach virus that sent him to the hospital on the eve of the final round, Mickelson closed with seven straight pars for a 3-under 69 to win the CA Championship after a dynamic duel at Doral against Nick Watney.
“It took a lot out of me,” said Mickelson, who sipped on energy drinks throughout the round. “I haven’t eaten much in three days. I fought hard. I’ve been playing some of my best golf, and I’m very excited to have finished it off.”
No longer the best player without a World Golf Championship, Mickelson now can set his sights on No. 1 in the world.
His second victory in his past three starts moved him to No. 2 in the world, closer than he has ever been to Tiger Woods. Depending on how Woods fares at Bay Hill, Mickelson could have a chance to replace him when he next plays at the Shell Houston Open.
“He’s the greatest player of all time. I don’t want to go there with the world ranking,” Mickelson said. “What I’m excited about is I’m playing some of my best golf.”
He finished at 19-under 269 and earned $1.4 million, the biggest check of his career.
Woods, in his first stroke-play event since winning the U.S. Open, closed with another 68 to finish eight shots behind in a tie for ninth, but at least kept one streak alive. He has never finished out of the top 10 on the Blue Monster.
Jim Furyk shot 31 on the back nine for a 67 to finish alone in third. Jeev Milkha Singh had a 70 and was alone in fourth, his best result in a PGA Tour event.
PGA Tour
Michael Bradley won the Puerto Rico Open by one shot over Jason Day after sinking an 11-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole at Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.
Bradley finished at 14-under 274 to outlast Jason Day and Brett Quigley at Trump International Golf Club. It was Bradley’s third PGA Tour victory and first since 1998.
Bart Bryant and Greg Chalmers finished another shot behind to tie for fourth at 12-under 276.
Champions Tour
Dan Forsman won the AT&T Champions Classic for his first victory in 12 Champions Tour starts, overcoming a five-stroke deficit in regulation and beating Don Pooley with a birdie on the first extra hole at Santa Clarita, Calif.
Forsman, five strokes behind Joey Sindelar entering the round, shot a 6-under 66 – the best round of the day – to match Pooley (70) at 11-under 205 on the Valencia Country Club course. Forsman earned $240,000.
Jay Haas (70) finished a stroke back at 10 under, and Sindelar (73) was 9 under along with Ben Crenshaw (67) and Fulton Allem (67).
In the playoff on the 546-yard, par-5 18th, Forsman made a 12-foot birdie putt, and Pooley had a 5-footer lip out. It was the third straight playoff in the event and sixth in the tournament’s 20-year history.