Phil Mickelson Wins First World Golf Championship

Phil Mickelson shot a Sunday 69 to win his 36th career PGA TOUR event.

More importantly, it was his first WGC—the tournament organized by the world’s foremost golf tours to showcase the world’s best golfing talent.

The 38-year-old golfing icon won in convincing though close fashion, avenging his 2005 loss to Tiger Woods at the famed Doral Blue Monster course.

He did to Nick Watney what Tiger did to him on the same course, winning by the slimmest of margins—one stroke.

It was a wire-to-wire win for the flu-ridden Mickelson. Tied for the lead with an opening 65 on Thursday, he took the sole lead after a 66 on Friday. A pair of 69s on weekend was good enough to defeat third round co-leader Watney.

They say beware of the ailing golfer—and Phil was ailing.

“I've just had a problem just keeping food down or fluids in. I was shaking for an hour. I had the cold—what is it, the cold sweats. So I was in bed for a half hour shaking. I took a hot shower and that didn't do it; a hot bath, and almost burned myself trying to get warmed up. That's when I decided to go.”

To the hospital he went Saturday night to receive the needed medical attention so he would be able to make his 2:45 PM tee time on Sunday afternoon. “I was in there for a few hours and had two big bags of fluid put in me and a little bit of medicine to help out.”

He stayed in bed until 1 PM before rising to the occasion of defeating Watney. He did so as predicted by keeping their twosome separated from the field and enduring the match play aspect of the competition for the last few holes.

Both golfers had their golf coach Butch Harmon on site with them in Florida. Mickelson put into perspective the swing changes he has been working on for quite some time. “I'm surprised it took this long, but I'm glad we are passed that phase where it feels awkward and now it just feels like my swing.”

The lefty’s swing included a turned over right-handed 8-iron on the 12th hole out a bush. Though it led to a bogey the shot represented Phil’s resolve to gut it out even though he was sick to win theWGC title that has eluded him three times a year for the last ten years.   

“After falling shy by a shot in 2005 (at the Ford Championship at Doral), to be able to win by a shot, felt incredible. And as Nick's ball rolled up to the hole (on the 18th green), it looked like it was going to go in; I've been there, man. I know that feeling. It's not a great one. I'm fortunate to be able to come out on top by a shot.”

With only the Transitions Championship at Innisbrook, the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard at Bay Hill, and the Shell Houston Open at the “knockoff Augusta National” Redstone CC all attention is turning to the Masters the first Major of 2009.

“It feels great to have won here, because I knew that I was playing some good golf heading into here. It feels great because I'm starting my Masters run to Augusta.”

Nick Watney shot 70 to finish second alone one stroke behind Mickelson. He had the lead after Phil bogeyed his nemesis for the week the par-three fourth hole but lost it to a birdie on the next hole. After a chip-in deuce at No. 9 and an eagle at the par-five 10th hole he was again even with Phil.

A costly bogey at the 11th hole and another bogey to match Phil’s on the par-five 12th hole led to his demise. Both golfers parred the last six holes and Phil’s one stroke lead was enough for the victory after Watney nearly holed a birdie putt on the famed 18th.  

“Overall, I'm very pleased with the way I played. Right now, it still hurts to finish second. I mean, it's disappointing to come up one shot short. But overall, it was a positive week, and just got to keep working hard.”

Phil was all compliments when asked about his 27-year-old opponent, who has already won the Buick Invitational this year at Torrey Pines.

“I think he's an incredibly talented person, player; incredibly talented player, and he's one of the nicest players we have on TOUR. I look forward to him being on some of our team events. I think he's going to be a real asset to our team squad on the U.S. Team events.”  

This author wonders what match play advice Mickelson will give to Watney if they are teammates in October at Harding Park in San Francisco for the President’s Cup competition. Advice he obviously withheld Sunday afternoon in the heat of the battle. In Watney’s own words it will likely center around the strategy employed at the critical 12th hole when Phil was in trouble.

“Phil did not hit a very good drive, and I hit a nice drive, and a four-iron, it was a perfect club. I hit a very poor shot into the left bunker. And then for maybe the fourth time this week, I was one foot out of the bunker, one foot in and the lie wasn't that great. I was just trying to chunk it on the green and have some kind of shot and it ended up in the trap.

“Somebody asked me earlier if I'm going to look back on the putt on 18; I'm going to look back at the putt on 12. I probably gave away two shots there. Disappointing.”

Watney was forthright in how he felt immediately after the loss.

“Just kind of frustrated to be honest; disappointed. It seems like a golf tournament lasts so long; and to play well and come up short like that, by one shot, is—kind of sucks.”

Jim Furyk rallied with a 67 to finish three strokes back. Given Phil’s Winged Foot U.S. Open closing double bogey, Watney’s inexperience, and the 18th being the most difficult hole all week, Furyk had a chance to make it interesting but failed to convert a short birdie putt on the 18th.

“(Winning) started entering my mind when I got to 15, if I could birdie two of the last three, birdie some holes coming in, I could put some heat on these guys. I gave it a good run”

Tiger Woods line score of 71-70-68-68=277 (-11) was good enough for a Top Ten finish (T9).

“The good news is, I got better each and every day, my ball-striking, my feel got better each and every day. I'm very happy with the way I played; I didn't say the way I finished. I didn't win the golf tournament and wasn't in a position to win the golf tournament.”

But there is another big tournament in four weeks up in Georgia and you can bet Mr. Woods will be completely ready with his competitive golf legs and left knee by then.

Who will win the Masters? Tiger, Phil, Padraig, Sergio or an Aussie for the very first time like Geoff Ogilvy or even Greg Norman reincarnated?

Phil, the WGC-CA champion has a plan—and used a little humor to acknowledge who he thought would likely be the most challenging opponent he will face at Augusta National.

“I think in two or three days, this virus hopefully will pass and I'll be able to resume my work to get back ready for the Masters and the Shell Houston Open the week before. He's (Tiger) the greatest player of all time arguably, he or Jack, and he'll get back to that level. I'm hoping it's in five weeks and not four.”