Mickelson Holds Off Watney to Win at Doral; Woods Ties for 9th
By Mason Levinson
March 15 (Bloomberg) -- Phil Mickelson won his first World Golf Championships title to move into second position in golf’s world rankings after overcoming dehydration and Nick Watney.
Mickelson, who also won last month on the U.S. PGA Tour, shot a 3-under-par 69 today at Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami, Florida, to finish first in the CA Championship at 19-under, one stroke better than Watney, who was 2-under on his round.
Jim Furyk was third at 16-under after a 5-under-par fourth round, while No. 1 ranked Tiger Woods shot a 4-under-par 68 to tie for ninth at 11-under in his second event since undergoing knee surgery last June.
Mickelson’s win came after he was given two bags of intravenous solution in a local hospital last night after suffering from heat exhaustion and mild dehydration.
“It took a lot out of me,” Mickelson said in a televised interview about the final round, adding that he may have another bag of fluid injected tonight. “I just didn’t have enough energy to think about what other people were doing on the leaderboard.”
Mickelson had five birdies and two bogeys during the final round, parring each of the last six holes. Watney, who entered the day tied for the lead, had three birdies, three bogeys and an eagle.
With both golfers on the fringe of the 18th green and Mickelson holding a one-shot advantage, Watney’s 30-foot birdie try stopped an inch short of the cup. Mickelson’s putt did as well and he tapped in for his 36th career U.S. Tour victory. The total tied Lloyd Mangrum for 12th all-time on the U.S. Tour.
Overtakes Garcia
The win took him above Sergio Garcia, who tied for 31st today, as the world’s No. 2 player. Mickelson trails only Woods, who was playing his first stroke-play event since winning the 2008 U.S. Open.
Mickelson declined to address a possible challenge to Woods’s title of the world’s top golfer.
“He hasn’t played in a year,” Mickelson said. “He’s the greatest player of all time.”
Mickelson said he’s focused on April’s Masters Tournament, the first major of the season.
“I’m ready to make a push in the coming weeks for Augusta,” he said. “I cannot wait for that tournament to come.”
To contact the reporter on this story: Mason Levinson in New York at mlevinson@bloomberg.net.
Last Updated: March 15, 2009 20:04 EDT |
