Archive for March, 2009
March 31, 2009
Michael Owen is now just 8/11 with Paddy Power to fail to play for England in South Africa after Fabio Capello all but wrote off the Newcastle strikers international chances.
Failure to be called up for Wednesdays game against Ukraine has moved Owens odds to not make South Africa next summer to odds-on for the first time whilst the 40 goal England striker is now out to 4/1 to ever break Bobby Charltons 49 goal England record.
With his contract up in the summer Owen might believe a change of club will boost his chances. Paddy Power are betting odds on where out of contract Owen will start next season with current club Newcastle the 6/5 favourites. Free-spending Manchester City are the first of the clubs in the running at 4/1 should he move elsewhere with a trip to LA Galaxy out at 33/1.
Darren Haines, spokesman for Paddy Power, said: The England door may not be completely shut if Owen can put a run of games together but with Darren Bents call up effectively demoting Owen to Englands eighth choice striker it doesnt look good.
World Cup Qualifying
Meanwhile England are now 1/6 to top their World Cup Qualifying group ahead of their Wednesday game against Ukraine and 1/10 to qualify for South Africa next summer. Northern Ireland may be a distant 12/1 to top Group Three but the current leaders are 6/1 to eventually qualify for next summers tournament.
Ireland are 15/8 to make it to South Africa with Scotlandat 10/3.
Michael Owen to play in WC2010
Evs Yes
8/11 No
4/1 Michael Owen to break Bobby Charltons England goals record
7/4 Michael Owen to score at WC2010
Michael Owen to score another goal for England
2/5 Yes
7/4 No
Who will Michael Owen play for at the start of next season?
6/5 Newcastle
4/1 Man City
8/1 Liverpool
9/1 Chelsea
13/2 Everton
11/1 Spurs
12/1 Arsenal
16/1 Man Utd
33/1 LA Galaxy
World Cup 2010 Qualification
To Top World Cup Qualifying Group
1/6 England (Group 6)
11/2 Ireland (8)
12/1 Northern Ireland (3)
16/1 Scotland (9)
To Qualify for WC2010
1/10 England
15/8 Ireland
10/3 Scotland
6/1 Northern Ireland
March 23, 2009
The only way Phil Mickelson could advance his ball from underneath a bush on the 12th hole at Doral was to swing from the other side. As is often the case, risk was involved.
I certainly didnt want to have to hit a right-handed shot with the lead, he said.
What concerned his caddie was the chance it could hit a palm tree and ricochet into even worse trouble, if not out of bounds. Thats why Jim Bones Mackay suggested a more conservative option by taking a penalty stroke and moving 20 yards back.
He was overruled. Lefty was adamant about going righty.
Ive done this before, Mickelson told him.
That might make the top 10 list of the worst things a caddie can hear his player say, but its not on Mackays list. He knew Mickelson had actually done it before.
One year Phil was playing at Summerlin with Neal Lancaster, Mackay said, referring to the Las Vegas tournament. The 12th hole was a par 4 where you drive it short of this lake, and then it runs all the way up the right side. Phil drove it next to a tree in front of the lake, so the next shot was entirely over water. He turns over an 8-iron and knocks it right-handed onto the green, 15 feet from the hole.
Neal hits it to 30 feet and left the first putt 15 feet short. Before he putted the next one, he turns to Phil and says two things - I cant believe that shot you hit, and Ive got no chance of making this putt. And he missed it.
The right-handed shot at Doral came out perfectly - except that it hit a tree. Luckily for Mickelson, it dropped down into the rough, and he wound up making only a bogey. Mickelson went on to win the CA Championship by one shot.
The caddie-player relationship took on a peculiar twist Tuesday afternoon on the practice range at Innisbrook when J.P. Hayes hit a smother-hook into the trees and uttered with genuine surprise, Whooooaaa!
Paul Goydos looked over at him and smiled.
Thats probably the worst thing a caddie can hear his player say, Goydos said.
And so began an animated discussion of the worst things a caddie can hear his player say. Among them:
- I think its time for us to make a change.
This is player-caddie code for youre fired.
- Ill keep the yardage book today.
This does not mean the player is taking some of the workload off the caddie. This is a bad sign that usually precedes, I think its time for us to make a change. It happened to Mike Fluff Cowan at Riviera in 1999, and it was the last time he caddied for Tiger Woods.
- How far did you say we had?
Such a question typically is posed after a shot goes either 30 yards over the green or comes up 30 yards short. Usually, it means the caddie made a mathematical blunder - but not always.
Shaun Micheel flew the 16th green at Wentworth by some 20 yards in the World Match Play Championship final against Paul Casey. Everyone assumed he had a bad yardage, especially when Micheel was overheard telling caddie Tony Lingard after making double bogey, Dont say another word to me the rest of the day.
But thats not what happened. Micheel wanted to hit 8-iron, and when the ball sailed over the green, caddie Tony Lingard said to him, Told you it was a 9-iron. Now thats probably the worst thing a caddie can say to his player.
Some other things a caddie never wants to hear from his player:
- Get down.
In other words, the ball has no chance of finding the green.
- Go.
See above.
- Why do we have two drivers in the bag?
Ian Woosnams caddie actually figured this out by himself on the second tee of the final round at the 2001 British Open. The extra club came with a two-stroke penalty.
- Can you get my cell phone? Im going to see if I can catch an early flight.
This is especially bad to hear on Friday morning. It means the player has no chance of making the cut, or believes he has no chance, which is even worse.
- I think Im going to add Pebble Beach to my schedule this year.
Why is this the last thing a caddie wants to hear? Not just because the rounds can be long with two pros and two amateurs over three days. And not because the bag will be heavier than usual with all the rain gear. The toughest part for a caddie is getting to the other two courses on the rotation, then finding the parking lot.
Mackay has been working for Mickelson the last 16 years, and he was asked for his own list of the worst things Lefty could say to him. Based on the answers, he probably was kidding.
Probably.
- Do you like this club if I decide to skip it across the water?
Mickelson is among the best at skipping tee shots across the pond on the 16th hole at Augusta National, which has become a tradition during the practice round. It would not be terribly unusual for him to try it in competition.
- Did you hear what I just said to you?
Mickelson said this on the 18th hole at Baltusrol in the third round of the 2005 PGA Championship. He was buried in the left rough with a stream dissecting the fairway about 80 yards away. Lefty wanted to hit a 4-wood. Mackay insisted that he lay up short with a wedge, fearing the 4-wood would tumble into the water. The caddie tried one last time to talk him out of it when Mickelson interrupted by saying, Did you hear what I just said to you?
In other words, end of discussion.
I looked like a buffoon when it came to rest behind the green, Mackay said.
March 20, 2009
The only way Phil Mickelson could advance his ball from underneath a bush on the 12th hole at Doral was to swing from the other side. As is often the case, risk was involved.
I certainly didnt want to have to hit a right-handed shot with the lead, he said.
What concerned his caddie was the chance it could hit a palm tree and ricochet into even worse trouble, if not out of bounds. Thats why Jim Bones Mackay suggested a more conservative option by taking a penalty stroke and moving 20 yards back.
He was overruled. Lefty was adamant about going righty.
Ive done this before, Mickelson told him.
That might make the top 10 list of the worst things a caddie can hear his player say, but its not on Mackays list. He knew Mickelson had actually done it before.
One year Phil was playing at Summerlin with Neal Lancaster, Mackay said, referring to the Las Vegas tournament. The 12th hole was a par 4 where you drive it short of this lake, and then it runs all the way up the right side. Phil drove it next to a tree in front of the lake, so the next shot was entirely over water. He turns over an 8-iron and knocks it right-handed onto the green, 15 feet from the hole.
Neal hits it to 30 feet and left the first putt 15 feet short. Before he putted the next one, he turns to Phil and says two things - I cant believe that shot you hit, and Ive got no chance of making this putt. And he missed it.
The right-handed shot at Doral came out perfectly - except that it hit a tree. Luckily for Mickelson, it dropped down into the rough, and he wound up making only a bogey. Mickelson went on to win the CA Championship by one shot.
The caddie-player relationship took on a peculiar twist Tuesday afternoon on the practice range at Innisbrook when J.P. Hayes hit a smother-hook into the trees and uttered with genuine surprise, Whooooaaa!
Paul Goydos looked over at him and smiled.
Thats probably the worst thing a caddie can hear his player say, Goydos said.
And so began an animated discussion of the worst things a caddie can hear his player say. Among them:
- I think its time for us to make a change.
This is player-caddie code for youre fired.
- Ill keep the yardage book today.
This does not mean the player is taking some of the workload off the caddie. This is a bad sign that usually precedes, I think its time for us to make a change. It happened to Mike Fluff Cowan at Riviera in 1999, and it was the last time he caddied for Tiger Woods.
- How far did you say we had?
Such a question typically is posed after a shot goes either 30 yards over the green or comes up 30 yards short. Usually, it means the caddie made a mathematical blunder - but not always.
Shaun Micheel flew the 16th green at Wentworth by some 20 yards in the World Match Play Championship final against Paul Casey. Everyone assumed he had a bad yardage, especially when Micheel was overheard telling caddie Tony Lingard after making double bogey, Dont say another word to me the rest of the day.
But thats not what happened. Micheel wanted to hit 8-iron, and when the ball sailed over the green, caddie Tony Lingard said to him, Told you it was a 9-iron. Now thats probably the worst thing a caddie can say to his player.
Some other things a caddie never wants to hear from his player:
- Get down.
In other words, the ball has no chance of finding the green.
- Go.
See above.
- Why do we have two drivers in the bag?
Ian Woosnams caddie actually figured this out by himself on the second tee of the final round at the 2001 British Open. The extra club came with a two-stroke penalty.
- Can you get my cell phone? Im going to see if I can catch an early flight.
This is especially bad to hear on Friday morning. It means the player has no chance of making the cut, or believes he has no chance, which is even worse.
- I think Im going to add Pebble Beach to my schedule this year.
Why is this the last thing a caddie wants to hear? Not just because the rounds can be long with two pros and two amateurs over three days. And not because the bag will be heavier than usual with all the rain gear. The toughest part for a caddie is getting to the other two courses on the rotation, then finding the parking lot.
Mackay has been working for Mickelson the last 16 years, and he was asked for his own list of the worst things Lefty could say to him. Based on the answers, he probably was kidding.
Probably.
- Do you like this club if I decide to skip it across the water?
Mickelson is among the best at skipping tee shots across the pond on the 16th hole at Augusta National, which has become a tradition during the practice round. It would not be terribly unusual for him to try it in competition.
- Did you hear what I just said to you?
Mickelson said this on the 18th hole at Baltusrol in the third round of the 2005 PGA Championship. He was buried in the left rough with a stream dissecting the fairway about 80 yards away. Lefty wanted to hit a 4-wood. Mackay insisted that he lay up short with a wedge, fearing the 4-wood would tumble into the water. The caddie tried one last time to talk him out of it when Mickelson interrupted by saying, Did you hear what I just said to you?
In other words, end of discussion.
I looked like a buffoon when it came to rest behind the green, Mackay said.
March 20, 2009
The next US PGA Tour policy board meeting could go a long way toward reshaping the ATT Pebble Beach National Pro-Am - where its played and how many players get into the field.
The tournament features 180 teams (one pro, one amateur) that play at Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill and Poppy Hills.
One recommendation is to lower the field size to 144 players, which some believe will alleviate the six-hour rounds or at least prevent three groups from stacking up on the par 5s. Poppy Hills, which has five par 5s, takes the longest to play.
The hang up?
Its primarily amateur access, tour commissioner Tim Finchem said. Everybody says, Just charge more. But what Pebble has done is create a network of people who support the tournament. Some are rotated in and out, and a lot of them write checks to the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, which has one of the best First Tee programs in the course. If you have less access, it could negatively impact that critical mass of activity that supports what youre doing.
The other component is the golf course, and among those mentioned as a replacement for Poppy Hills - the weak link in the rotation - is Cypress Point, rated as among the best courses in America.
Cypress was dropped from the rotation in 1991 because of its exclusionary membership policies, which no longer is a problem.
The other possibilities are Bayonet, recently refurbished and considered among the toughest tracks in California; and Monterey Peninsula Country Club.
Finchem would not say how serious the board is looking at change, especially the field size.
Part of you says, Make it as good as it can be. Thats generally our attitude with any tournament, he said. But youve got to take other things under account that might hold you back a little bit.
One other factor to consider is the strengthened relationship with the title sponsor and the worlds No. 1 player. Tiger Woods has a deal with ATT to carry its logo on his golf bag. ATT already sponsors his U.S. PGA Tour event in Washington.
Woods has not played the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am since 2002, but is likely to return next year - for no other reason than the U.S. Open will be held at Pebble in 2010.
That has led to speculation among players that Woods is behind the changes, particularly the courses. Rick George, chief of operations for the tour, said discussions began before Woods signed his bag deal with ATT.
—
TIGERS TOURNAMENT: The only complaint Tiger Woods had about his $5.75 million charity tournament in December was that it was scheduled so close to Christmas that several top players chose not to play.
The date after the Skins Game would be great, he said last year.
Woods got his wish.
The Chevron World Challenge, originally scheduled for the week before Christmas, has been moved up to Dec. 3-6, which tournament organizers hope will attract an even stronger field. Among those who skipped last year were Padraig Harrington, Trevor Immelman, Adam Scott and Geoff Ogilvy, either because of the late date or a conflict with tournaments in Australia or South Africa.
This is a huge deal, tournament director Greg McLaughlin said. Its better for the players, and its far enough away from Christmas that I think it will be excellent for a field.
Woods tournament is the richest of the silly season - the purse is larger than 20 official U.S. PGA Tour events - but the change in date could come at the expense of one of the best tournaments at that time of the year.
The date previously was occupied by the Father-Son Challenge, which is searching for a title sponsor and likely will take a year off.
The Chevron World Challenge is held at Sherwood Country Club in Thousands Oaks, California, about a two-hour drive from the Skins Game (although the Skins Game also is looking for a title sponsor).
It now falls two weeks after the Dubai World Championship, the final event on the European Tour.
—
VALUE OF THE KING: Padraig Harrington has great respect for Arnold Palmer, but it went to a higher level last week in Miami when he overheard someone ordering an Arnold Palmer - iced tea with lemonade.
That says it all that you can go into a random restaurant and order a drink named after a professional golfer, Harrington said. Even Tiger Woods hasnt got there yet.
—
EXPANDED FIELD: Jimmy Walker and Colt Knost were in the Transitions Championship after the 5 p.m. deadline to commit on Friday. Two days later, they were alternates who needed someone to withdraw to get a tee time.
Blame that on the weak, opposite-field event last week in Puerto Rico.
Players who finish in the top 10 are eligible for the following week, provided its not a limited tournament like Bay Hill or the Memorial. Six players from Puerto Rico qualified for Innisbrook - Jason Day, Greg Chalmers, J.P. Hayes, D.A. Points, Joe Durant and Kent Jones.
Michael Bradley made it seven - he won the tournament and is exempt now for two years - but withdrew from the Transitions with an injury.
It could have been worse if the tour had the same provision for World Golf Championships. Otherwise, four players from the top 10 at Doral - Jeev Milkha Singh, Oliver Wilson, Soren Kjeldsen and Thomas Aiken - would have been eligible for Tampa.
Andy Pazder, senior vice president of tour administration, said the policy board decided not to include WGCs because of the high number of non-tour members who play.
—
DIVOTS: Greg Norman has entered the Cap Cana Championship next week in the Dominican Republic, his first Champions Tour event that is not a major. Norman also will play the Shell Houston Open the following week as he prepares for his return to the Masters. … Americans went 1-2-3 at the CA Championship (Phil Mickelson, Nick Watney, Jim Furyk), the first time that happened in the CA Championship, and the fourth time overall in a World Golf Championship.
STAT: Phil Mickelson has finished ahead of Tiger Woods in consecutive tournaments, the first time he has done that since the Masters and U.S. Open in 2006.
March 17, 2009
Tiger Woods finally made some meaningful putts, even if they were for par, as he teamed with John Cook to win a fourballs match Monday in leading Isleworth to a 6-4 lead over Lake Nona in the Tavistock Cup.
Woods and Cook had a 9-under 63 to defeat Henrik Stenson and Chris DiMarco in the opening match. Isleworth captain Mark OMeara and Darren Clarke followed with a 62 for a two-stroke victory over Mark McNulty and Ben Curtis.
I made some nice par putts today, Woods said. Keep working on it.
The Tavistock Cup is between two high-profile golf clubs in Orlando where several prominent PGA Tour players are members. The opening round was fourballs, in which two points were awarded for the lowest score.
Lake Nona won two matches with the best two scores of the day.
Graeme McDowell and Retief Goosen shot a 60 for a four-shot victory over J.B. Holmes and Daniel Chopra. Lake Nona won its other match when Justin Rose and Ian Poulter shot a 61 to win by one shot over Stuart Appleby and Robert Allenby.
Appleby chipped in for birdie to tie the match, but Rose rolled in a 12-foot birdie putt for the victory.
Charles Howell III and Nick OHern gave Isleworth its other victory with a 62 to win by three over Lake Nona captain Ernie Els and Masters champion Trevor Immelman.
The final round Tuesday features two players from each club competing in singles medal-match against each player from the other club. Woods will play with OMeara against Poulter and Stenson. That means Woods will match his score against Poulter and Stenson.
March 17, 2009
His return to competition was long overdue.
After an absence of just over eight months, as speculation intensified whether his best golf was behind him, he now looks as good as ever and has helped bring some buzz back to the PGA Tour. He might even be considered the favorite at Augusta National.
Welcome back, Lefty.
About the only thing better than the return of Tiger Woods is the revival of Phil Mickelson, renewing this generations best rivalry with the Masters right around the corner.
Mickelson wasnt really gone, of course, but it sure seemed that way.
He was the one player who had the most to gain when Woods had season-ending knee surgery after winning the U.S. Open and disappeared for eight months. The stage was set for Mickelson, for the first time in his career, to win a PGA Tour money title, be voted player of the year, perhaps move up to No. 1 in the world.
And then he vanished.
Mickelson opened with a 79 at Royal Birkdale, the first major without Woods, and was never a factor.
He never broke par at Oakland Hills in the PGA Championship.
He didnt win a single tournament the rest of the year, and really came close only twice.
Few other players truly relish competition against Woods, and you have to wonder if golf is as much fun for Lefty without Woods around. He doesnt buy into this. Asked at the 2004 Masters what it was like to have the lead with Woods nine shots behind, Mickelson smiled and said, It doesnt suck, I can say that.
Even so, the timing is peculiar.
The week Woods announced his return to competition, Mickelson had rounds of 63 and 62 at Riviera to win the Northern Trust Open, his first victory since the month before Woods won his 14th major at Torrey Pines.
Playing in the same 72-hole event with Woods for the first time since the U.S. Open, Mickelson led all the way at Doral to win the CA Championship. He closed with a 69 on Sunday, despite spending a few hours in the hospital the night before with a stomach virus.
The victory moved him to No. 2 in the world, which is where he was when Woods left, and has put him closer than ever to No. 1. Depending on how Woods does at Bay Hill next week, Mickelson could have a mathematical chance to reach the top when he next plays at the Shell Houston Open.
The question is how long Mickelson can keep this going - and how soon before Woods hits his stride.
Woods went 68-68 on the weekend at Doral to finish in the top 10, but there was no cause for alarm. His swing looked as sound as ever, and he had every chance to contend except for his putting. The rust of being out for eight months showed in his inability to post a score.
For someone who finished eight shots behind, he appeared to be at peace.
I have not controlled the golf ball that well in a very long time, and that was fun, Woods said after the third round. I was hitting shots that I had not been able to hit before, which was such a great feeling. Im just not making any putts.
After his victory, someone asked Mickelson if he felt Woods would be in peak form sooner than some expected.
I dont think anybody is concerned about that, Mickelson said. Hes the greatest player of all time, arguably, he or Jack (Nicklaus). And hell get back to that level. Im hoping its in five weeks and not four.
That was a reference to the Masters being four weeks away.
Both will play one more tournament before then - Woods at Bay Hill, Mickelson at Houston - and no telling who will be atop the world rankings when they sit down for the Champions Dinner on Tuesday night at Augusta National.
What excites Mickelson are tee shots that are going longer - and straighter - than he can remember, and producing a short-game DVD that forced him to keep it simple for the consumers. It allowed him to go back to the basics, and his short game was superb at Doral.
Plus, he said he has finished making changes with swing coach Butch Harmon, and now is simply fine-tuning everything.
Im playing some of my best golf, said Mickelson, whose 36 career victories include three majors.
This could get good over the next few months.
For all the talk over emerging young players like Anthony Kim and Rory McIlroy, and despite Padraig Harrington going for a third straight major at the Masters, these are the two names that drive golf.
Woods transcends the sport. That much was clear by the size of his gallery, even when he was never in weekend contention. But every star needs a foil, and no one plays that role like Mickelson.
Mickelson had history in his grasp three years ago at Winged Foot, when Woods father died and he sat out two months, returning at the U.S. Open only to miss the cut for the first time in a major. Mickelson had a chance to win his third straight major until throwing it away with a double bogey on the last hole. He has not contended for a major since.
Woods is on the rebound again, this time for health reasons.
Mickelson is hitting his stride.
Golf was without its biggest star for eight months. Now it has two of them back.
March 16, 2009
DORAL, Fla - No longer the best player without a World Golf Championship, Phil Mickelson won a spirited duel at Doral on Sunday to win the CA Championship and put himself in position to reach No 1 in the world.
Mickelson, taken to a hospital on the eve of the final round with heat exhaustion and dehydration, survived seven lead changes in 11 holes against Nick Watney before hanging on with seven pars for a 3-under 69 and a one-shot victory.
Mickelson won for the second time in four weeks and moved to No. 2 in the world ranking, as close to Tiger Woods as he has ever been. Depending on how Woods fares at Bay Hill, Mickelson might have a chance to go to No. 1 when he plays again.
Winning this tournament was all that mattered.
Four years ago, Mickelson lost a two-shot lead against Woods in a duel that ranks among the best ever at Doral. He didnt get his revenge against the worlds No. 1 player, but Watney gave him all he could handle.
Watney closed with a 2-under 70, holing an unlikely chip for birdie from behind the ninth green, then making an eagle on the 10th to pull into a tie for the lead. Needing a birdie on the 18th hole, which yielded only three in the final round, Watney thought his 30-footer was good until it stopped one turn away.
He pulled his cap over his face, and could only watch as Mickelson took two putts from 25 feet away for par and the victory.
PGA Tour
RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico - Michael Bradley won the Puerto Rico Open by one shot over Jason Day after sinking an 11-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole.
Bradley finished at 14-under 274 to outlast Jason Day and Brett Quigley at Trump International Golf Club. It was Bradleys third PGA Tour victory and first since 1998.
Bradley hit his winning putt at a perfect speed after drastically misreading his eagle effort. Day had a chance to force a playoff with a birdie, but the 21-year-old Australian missed a 7-footer.
Bart Bryant and Greg Chalmers finished another shot behind to tie for fourth at 12-under 276.
Bradley was presented with a trophy and a check for $630,000 for the dramatic victory on the windy 7,526-yard course. It also earned the 42-year-old of Lithia, Fla., a two-year exemption through the 2011 season and a spot in the 2009 PGA Championship and the Mercedes-Benz Championship.
Champions Tour
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. - Dan Forsman won the ATT 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.
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 tournaments 20-year history.
Nationwide Tour
QUEENSTOWN, New Zealand - American Alex Prugh won the New Zealand Open for his first Nationwide Tour title, pulling away with his second eagle of the round and finishing three strokes ahead of countryman Martin Piller.
The 24-year-old former University of Washington player finished with an 8-under 64 for a 19-under 269 total on The Hills course.
Prugh eagled the par-5 17th to take a four-stroke lead, and also had an eagle on the par-4 eighth. He had four back-nine birdies.
Piller, the third-round leader, shot a 68.
American Jim Herman had a 68 to finish third at 14 under in the event sanctioned by the Australasian and Nationwide tours.
March 16, 2009
Dan Forsman won the ATT Champions Classic on Sunday for his first victory in 12 Champions Tour stars, overcoming a five-stroke deficit in regulation and beating Don Pooley with a birdie on the first extra hole.
Im at a loss for words right now, said the 50-year-old Forsman, a five-time winner on the PGA Tour. It means so much to win on the Champions Tour.
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 - 2-0 in playoffs on the PGA Tour - 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 tournaments 20-year history.
Forsman birdied three of the last five holes in regulation, parring the 18th after a lucky break. Forsman tried to reach the green in two, but his second shot - with a hybrid - went right of the green and barely stayed in bounds.
I just didnt stay with the shot, said Forsman, who missed a 25-foot birdie try on the hole. I had officials at first wave it out of bounds, but then they told me it was right on the string, meaning it was in bounds.
Pooley also had a chance to win outright on the final hole, but his 6-foot downhill birdie putt missed to the left.
I hit an incredible bunker shot to 6 feet, said Pooley, winless since the 2003 Allianz Championship. The putt was right and I aimed left edge. I thought I won right there.
March 16, 2009
With his best chance at winning a World Golf Championship title, Phil Mickelson broke into a cold sweat and couldnt 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 havent eaten much in three days. I fought hard. Ive been playing some of my best golf, and Im 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 last 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.
Hes the greatest player of all time. I dont want to go there with the world ranking, Mickelson said. What Im excited about is Im playing some of my best golf.
He finished at 19-under 269 and earned $1.4 million, the biggest check of his career.
This one-shot victory might have been as impressive as any.
Mickelson had to conserve all his energy for every shot. Watney made sure every shot mattered. There already were seven lead changes when they walked off the 11th green, and then they matched scores the rest of the way.
The finish was familiar to Mickelson, only this one had a happy ending.
Four years ago in another frantic final round on the Blue Monster, he had a chance to force a playoff on the 18th hole and doubled over in shock when his 30-foot chip caught the lip of the cup.
This time, Watney had a 30-foot putt that looked good all the way until it stopped one turn from dropping. Watney, who closed with a 70, pulled his cap over his face in disbelief.
It looked like it was going in, Mickelson said. Ive been there, man. I know that feeling. Its not a great one.
Watney made all three of his bogeys from the bunker in the final round, the last one on the par-5 12th that cost him his best chance at catching Mickelson.
Ill get over this, Watney said. Its a positive week. I played really well. Beat 78 of the best players in the world. Beat Tiger, which is always good. Im very pleased with the way Im playing.
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.
I didnt get anything out of my rounds, Woods said. I hit the ball a lot better than my scoring indicates.
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.
But the show throughout a steamy afternoon belonged to Mickelson and Watney, who went into the final round tied for the lead, both pupils of swing coach Butch Harmon, both having won over the last few months.
It was a wonder Mickelson even made it to the course. He had trouble eating the last few days, and he was worried when he broke out in a cold sweat and began shaking in bed. He tried a hot shower and a hot bath, and finally agreed to go to a hospital for treatment of heat exhaustion and mild dehydration.
I heard that he had gone to the hospital, Watney said. I think he was walking a little bit slower and just trying to conserve energy. I thought he played very well. Obviously, he played well enough to win.
Mickelson felt so drained that he never got wrapped up in the duel or the tremendous shots Watney hit to stay in the mix - a chip-in from behind the ninth green for birdie, or his approach into the par-5 10th for eagle to tie Mickelson for the lead.
When Nick was hitting those great shots midway through the round, I didnt have time to worry about it or energy to worry about it, Mickelson said. I was just worried about my own shot and try to maintain an even pace.
He didnt even have energy to worry about the risk of hitting a shot right-handed on a hole where the tournament turned in his favor.
Clinging to a one-shot lead, Mickelson pulled his tee shot into a bush and felt his only option was to invert an 8-iron and play it from the other side. It was a perfect shot, except that it hit a tree.
He wound up with a bogey, but kept the lead when Watney hit into a bunker with a 4-iron for his second shot. From another awkward stance, he caught too much sand and left the ball in the bunker, blasted to 6 feet and missed the par putt.
I feel like I gave away two shots there, Watney said. Having 4-iron to the green and making 6 there was pretty disappointing. I guess thats going to happen over 72 holes. Just try to work hard and come back better next time.
Mickelson won at Riviera three week ago, and his victory at Doral made it six straight seasons of winning multiple times, the longest active streak on the PGA Tour. He now has 36 victories to tie for 12th with Lloyd Mangrum on the career list.
And while he still hasnt reached the top of the rankings, Mickelson appears to be peaking for the Masters a month away. Whether he is at No. 1 when he gets there is of little concern. He only wonders how soon before Woods hits his stride.
Hell get back to that level, Mickelson said. Im hoping its in five weeks and not four.
March 15, 2009
DORAL, Fla -Phil Mickelson wanted another chance to go head-to-head with Tiger Woods at Doral. Nick Watney gave Lefty all he could handle Saturday in the CA Championship.
Mickelson hit his stride on the back nine of the Blue Monster with three straight birdies and wound up with a 3-under 69. That still wasn’t enough to shake Watney, who finished off a 67 with a tough par save on the 18th hole to share the 54-hole lead.
They were at 16-under 200, with no one else closer than four shots.
Mickelson had birdie putts inside 12 feet on eight consecutive holes - including a tee shot on the par-3 13th that rolled against the flag stick and stopped a foot away - until a wild tee shot on the 17th hole led to bogey.
Watney, who won at Torrey Pines a month ago, stayed in the game with two good bunker saves and a delicate chip to 3 feet after flirting with the water on 18.
Woods was thrilled with how he hit the ball, disgusted with his putting, and had to settle for a 68 that left him nine shots behind. This is his first stroke-play tournament since winning the U.S. Open last summer. Woods had season-ending knee surgery a week later.
Jeev Milkha Singh (68) and Camilo Villegas (69) were tied for third at 12 under, and the group another shot behind included Jim Furyk (69), Kenny Perry (71) and Alvaro Quiros, the big-hitting Spaniard who had a 69.
Mickelson, who won two weeks ago at Riviera, can close in on No. 1 in the world ranking by capturing his first World Golf Championship title. It will be his first time in the final group at Doral since 2005, when Woods rallied to beat him.
Puerto Rico Open
RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico - Michael Bradley shot a 4-under 68 in windy conditions for a share of the third-round lead with Australian Jason Day in the PGA Tour’s Puerto Rico Open.
The 42-year-old Bradley, whose last top-10 finish came at the 2000 Michelob Championship at Kingsmill, 64 tournaments ago, matched Day (70) at 12-under 204 - four shots clear on the tropical, 7,526-yard Trump International course.
The 21-year-old Day hit into the water off the tee on the par-4 17th, but rallied to save par with a 12-foot putt.
Jay Williamson (67), Brett Quigley (69), Greg Chalmers (70), Omar Uresti (70), Kent Jones (70), Cliff Kresge (72), Bart Bryant (73) and Bryce Molder (72).
Matt Jones, tied for the second-round lead with Day after matching the course record with a 64, shot a 79 to drop into a tie for 37th at 3 under. The Australian had two double bogeys, eight bogeys and three birdies.
AT&T Champions Classic
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. - Joey Sindelar moved a step closer to his first Champions Tour victory, shooting a 2-under 70 to take a one-stroke lead over Don Pooley in the AT&T Champions Classic.
The 50-year-old Sindelar, winless in 22 starts on the Champions Tour after winning seven times on the PGA Tour, had a 10-under 134 total on the Valencia Country Club course. After shooting a 63 on Sunday to tie for second in the Toshiba Classic at Newport Beach, he opened with a 64 on Friday.
Sindelar stretched his bogey-free streak to 42 holes before dropping a stroke on the par-4 fifth. He also bogeyed Nos. 8 and 10, but played the final seven holes in 4 under to top the leaderboard for the second straight day.
Pooley shot a bogey-free 65, the best round of the day.
New Zealand Open
QUEENSTOWN, New Zealand - American Martin Piller shot a 4-under 68 to top the crowded third-round leaderboard in the New Zealand Open.
Piller, the 23-year-old former Texas A&M player in his first season on the Nationwide Tour, had a 12-under 204 total on The Hills course.
New Zealand’s Grant Waite (66) and Josh Geary (68) were a stroke back along with American Alex Prugh (69), Australia’s Jason Norris (71) and Norway’s Henrik Bjornstad (68) in the event sanctioned by the Australasian and Nationwide tours.
