Sunday, November 11, 2007

MICKELSON SURVIVES LAST ROUND SLUMP
TO WIN THREE-WAY PLAY OFF

American star Phil Mickelson was a shade lucky to survive a last-round slump and win the HSBC Champions title after beating English duo of Ross Fisher and Lee Westwood at the second play-off hole on Sunday.
The three-time Major winner dropped six shots to par over eight holes on his way to a fourth-round 76 for 10-under-par 278, but he sealed his victory with a birdie at the par-5 18th second play-off hole at the Sheshan International Golf Club.
Westwood was forced to the runner-up spot after his ball found the water while Fisher missed a 10ft birdie putt at the 18-hole championship course. All three players had previously parred the first extra hole on the 18th. Fisher was the man who should have won. He double-bogeyed the 18th in regulation time when two shots clear of the field.
It was Mickelson’s first professional triumph in Asia and his first overseas win in 14 years as he collected the top prize of $833,300.
“This was a very funny day. I cannot believe I'm here as the champion right now. It was one of the more unusual back nines that I have ever been a part of,” said Mickelson, with 32 wins on the US PGA Tour.
But the action started in regulation play when Fisher, with a two-stroke advantage with one hole to play, found the water for a double bogey on the 18th hole. Mickelson bogeyed the 18th hole while Westwood parred to make it a three-way play-off.
“I don't know what to say. I was leading by a lot, and looked like I had control, and had six penalty shots today and ended up two back with three to go and now got in a play-off. I don't know how the day finished like this, but I am certainly excited to be the HSBC Champion, and I guess it really doesn't matter how,” said the American winner, who had a two-stroke lead heading into the final round.
In the second play-off hole, Mickelson struck an accurate chip which left the ball four feet away for the win. Fisher dug out from the bunker and left his ball 10 feet away as he missed his birdie opportunity while Westwood was out of contention when his ball found the water in two consecutive shots.
“I can take a lot from today. I've pushed the world number two all the way. I've beaten guys like Ernie (Els) and obviously Monty (Colin Montgomerie) missed the cut, but I finished ahead of some very high, top‑quality players. I thought, you know, obviously a little bit disappointed not to walk away with the trophy, but still, I think it's been a great week,” said Fisher, who won his first professional title in Holland in August.
Starting the fourth round nine shots off the pace, Westwood remained pleased with his final day performance, having struck six birdies on the back nine to bring himself into the play-off with a 67.
“It didn't look like that with nine holes to go, so yeah, delighted. Last two holes, I hit two (in regulation play), what I thought were perfect putts, and neither went in. So that's kind of the way the week went. I never really got into it. I felt a bit sort of end‑of‑the‑season tired, and sort of got smell of the home stretch on the last few holes there and it sort of spurred me on.
“And really in the grand scheme of things it was the two fantastic putts on the last two holes in regulation play. But you know, they (Mickelson and Fisher) should have finished better because they made a mess of 18 the first time around. Funny tournament, strange things happened.” said Westwood.
Kevin Stadler of United States finished in lone fourth position after a 73 for a 279 total while Irishman Padraig Harrington and Fijian ace Vijay Singh shot matching 71s to claim tied fifth place a stroke behind Stadler.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4 x 72)
278 Phil Mickelson (US) 68-66-68-76, Ross Fisher (Eng) 68-68-68-74, Lee Westwood (Eng) 70-74-67-67 (Mickelson won the at the second play-off hole)
279 Kevin Stadler (US) 64-69-73-73
280 Vijay Singh (Fiji) 67-70-72-71, Padraig Harrington (Ire) 68-72-69-71
281 Steve Webster (Eng) 69-70-72-70
282 Andrew Mclardy (SAf) 68-69-72-73
283 Paul Casey (Eng) 68-71-66-78, Henrik Stenson (Swe) 70-70-71-72
284 Louis Oosthuizen (SAf) 71-68-72-73
285 Angel Cabrera (Arg) 68-72-72-73
286 Simon Yates (Sco) 70-66-75-75, Nick Dougherty (Eng) 71-70-74-71
287 Chapchai Nirat (Thai) 69-73-73-72, Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 74-69-72-72, Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 71-72-73-71
288 - Nathan Green (Aus) 73-68-69-78, Retief Goosen (SAf) 69-74-71-74, Gregory Havret (Fra) 72-75-72-69
289 - Ernie Els (SAf) 75-69-70-75, Markus Brier (Austria) 69-73-73-74, Bradley Dredge (Wal) 73-73-72-71
290 - Richard Sterne (SAf) 68-72-69-81, Lin Wen-tang (Taipei) 71-72-74-73, Kim Kyung-tae (Kor) 71-73-74-72.

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