At the PGA World Golf Championships at Doral, Phil Mickelson started out strong shooting a day one 65 (despite a double bogey on three) to tie with Jeev Milkha Singh. Lefty added only one stroke to his second day total. On Saturday, however, his game seemed to slip with a 69 (and three bogeys), and he ended his day being treated for heat exhaustion. It seemed a few players were poised to make a run at the top spot including his day 4 rival Nick Watney, Camilo Villegas and J.M. Singh.
The leaders seemed to combust on hole 12 – Mickelson hit into the rough, then hit his club upside down with his right hand to hit into the rough again. He followed that up by hitting into the rough on the other side of the fairway. Watney, instead of taking advantage, hit out of a bunker back into the same bunker to match Mickelson’s ugly bogey for the hole. It seemed Furyk might play for the title when he simultaneously holed a chip shot, two holes up, followed by a long birdie putt. In the end, Watney fell just inches short of holing a putt to force Mickelson to putt for a tie. Mickelson, now having two putts to win, took home the biggest money prize of his career, with Furyk at third and still on top of the Points Standings.
Also on the PGA Tour, in Puerto Rico, Michael Bradley sunk a long birdie putt for his first win in 11 years over Jason Day and Brett Quigley. On the Champions Tour in Valencia, the players went into the third and final day with Joey Sindelar in the lead (after shooting a 64 on day one), with Don Pooley right behind, in striking distance. Then came Dan Forsman, who came from trailing behind by five strokes, to tying the leader, Pooley, with a 66 (seven birdies and a bogey). In the first extra hole, Forsman shot a birdie to win his first Champions Tour win. Jay Haas finished third, and Sindelar shot a final round 73 to tie with two others for forth. The Nationwide Tour, in New Zealand, had a similar story. 24 year old Alex Prugh had a remarkable final round featuring two eagles and 30 on the back nine to take the win. Americans finished 1-2-3, with Martin Piller and Jim Herman. Prugh was the first American winner of the tournament since Corey Pavin took the title in 1984 and 85.
We will rejoin the ladies next week when the Duramed Futures tour begins and the LPGA resumes.
