Monday, March 05, 2018


European Tour 1WGC-Mexico Championship Logo


Mickelson the master in Mexico


Phil trophy
This image of Phil Mickelson by courtesy of  Getty Images 

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Phil Mickelson eclipsed a moment of magic from Justin Thomas to beat his American compatriot in a play-off at the WGC – Mexico Championship and secure his first title since winning the Open in 2013. It pushed him up to No 18 in the world pro rankings.

The American pair finished tied on 16 under par after an enthralling final round at Chapultepec Golf Club.

Mickelson saw his birdie putt lip out at the first play-off hole – the par three 17th – but when Thomas failed to get down in two from behind the green the 47 year old had his first victory in almost five years.

England's Tyrrell Hatton, who missed out on extra holes after a bogey at the last, and Spain's Rafa Cabrera Bello tied for third on 15 under.

Cabrera Bello had made the first move on Sunday when he chipped in from a bunker for eagle at the first to catch overnight leader Shubhankar Sharma before the Indian had even teed off.

The Spaniard, Hatton and Mickelson all had spells in front but Thomas, who was 11 shots behind halfway leader Sharma on Friday night before carding a blistering 62 on Saturday, made six birdies in his first 15 holes to edge ahead.

A bogey on the 17th looked to have derailed his challenge, but Thomas spun his 120-yard approach back into the cup at the 18th to set a daunting clubhouse target with a round of 64.

Hatton joined him when he followed a birdie on the 14th with an eagle from 11 feet on the 15th, while Mickelson birdied the 15th and 16th before his 25-foot effort on the next missed by a whisker.

With both needing a birdie on the last, Hatton and Mickelson miscued their approaches and the former was unable to get up and down, but the five-time Major winner held his nerve from five feet to seal a closing 66 before a par at the first play-off hole saw him become the oldest winner of a World Golf Championships event.

Sharma shot a closing 74 as the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex leader marked his WGC debut with a tie for ninth.

Player Quotes

Phil Mickelson: “I can't put into words how much this means to me, it’s been a long time. To come here to Mexico City with the fans here and play against the best players in the world and finally come through... I knew it was going to come soon, I was playing too well for it not to but you never know until it happens.

“My game is starting to get to a level that is some of my best golf and it seems like it's just in time. It's nice to be in that small circle called the winner's circle; I haven't been in it for a while.”

Justin Thomas: “I'm definitely disappointed.  I wish Phil's putt just would have gone in so I would have felt better about myself.  But I was a little pumped up and the gap wedge went a lot farther than I thought it was going to.  But man, there's nothing for me to hang my head about.  To even have a chance to win this golf tournament after where I was through 18, through 36 holes, I'm very proud of myself.  I think it's the most maturity and kind of poise I've shown in a tournament I've ever played.”

Rafa Cabrera Bello: I felt I played well, I've been in contention, I played well today as well.  Maybe one or two mistakes, but I, by no means, feel that I lost anything.  I've kind of always been in the hunt, a couple, one or two a few back from the leaders.  Unfortunately, that's how it's going to finish.  But overall pretty pleased.  A very good performance.

“You don't expect anything different in a World Golf Championship.  I think every World Golf Championship delivers.  The best players in the world come and play them and it's pretty normal that at the end of the week the best players in the world are at the top.”

Tyrrell Hatton: “It just felt like I was pretty unlucky today in general, especially on six.  It was a really poor drive but I was right up against the tree.  Then Phil hits the same drive, hits off a tree and comes back near the fairway and he gets on the green in two.  So guess you need breaks like that from time to time.  Felt like I got unlucky down 11 as well, another par five.  Didn't hit a bad shot there and walk off with a 6  Just wasn't my day today.”

FINAL TOTALS AND PRIZEMONEY
1MICKELSON Phil              USA-166968 65 66
268     € 1,392,415
2THOMAS Justin USA-1672 7062 64

268
€ 878,041
3CABRERA BELLO Rafa ESP-1566  676967
269
€ 418,134
3HATTON Tyrrell ENG-1570686467
269
€ 418,134
5APHIBARNRAT KiradechTHA-1366697165271
€ 270,702
5HARMAN Brian USA-1368676868
271
€ 270,702
7GARCIA Sergio ESP-1268656970272
€ 196,372
7JOHNSON Dustin USA-1269666869272
€ 196,372
9HADWIN Adam CAN-1070716766
274
€ 149,070
9SHARMA Shubhankar IND-1065666974
274
€ 149,070
9WATSON Bubba USA-1069667267274
€ 149,070
12CASEY Paul ENG-973686866
275
€ 123,270
12KIZZIRE Patton USA-969697166
275
€ 123,270
14BERGER Daniel USA-869687267
276
€ 103,612
14FLEETWOOD Tommy ENG-872716766
276
€ 103,612
14NOREN Alex SWE-869707166276
€ 103,612
14SPIETH Jordan USA-870676970
276
€ 103,612
18BLAND Adam AUS-770677169
277€ 93,783
18SCHAUFFELE Xander USA-765687074
277
€ 93,783
20HOFFMAN Charley USA-670667072278
€ 85,429
20PEREZ Pat USA-668676875
278€ 85,429
20RAHM Jon ESP-667717070
278
€ 85,429
20STEELE Brendan USA-669667172
278
€ 85,429
20VEGAS Jhonattan VEN-670686971278
€ 85,429
25MOLINARI Francesco ITA-571707068279
€ 78,016
25STANLEY Kyle USA-571657172
279
€ 78,016
27CAMPILLO Jorge ESP-472716968
280
€ 74,535
27FINAU Tony USA-468706874
280
€ 74,535
29KISNER Kevin USA-370716674
281
€ 72,078
30BURMESTER Dean RSA-273707465282€ 66,696
30CANTLAY Patrick USA-270757166282
€ 66,696
30CHAPPELL Kevin USA-273707267282
€ 66,696
30FITZPATRICK Matthew ENG-271697468282
€ 66,696
30GRACE Branden RSA-272697368
282
€ 66,696
30OOSTHUIZEN Louis RSA-264717671282
€ 66,696
30WIESBERGER Bernd AUT-273717266
282€ 66,696
37FOWLER Rickie USA-168707075
283
€ 59,792
37LEISHMAN Marc AUS-169686977
283
€ 59,792
37LUITEN Joost NED-172716872
283
€ 59,792
37PAISLEY Chris ENG-165757172
283€ 59,792
37PIETERS Thomas BEL-169687472283
€ 59,792
37REED Patrick USA-172746869283
€ 59,792
37ROSE Justin ENG-171727367283
€ 59,792
37SIMPSON Webb USA-172707368283
€ 59,792
37UIHLEIN Peter USA-174727067283€ 59,792
46FISHER Ross ENG071686976284
€ 55,287
46IKEDA Yuta JPN073746869
284
€ 55,287
48LIPSKY David USA+170717173285
€ 53,649
48SCHWARTZEL Charl RSA+171697075
285
€ 53,649
50ORMSBY Wade AUS+279676971
286
€ 52,011
50WOODLAND Gary USA+274717368
286
€ 52,011
52ANCER Abraham MEX+371767169287
€ 50,373
52REAVIE Chez USA+372736874
287
€ 50,373
54KODAIRA Satoshi JPN+472737370
288
€ 49,144
55DUFNER Jason USA+772726879
291
€ 47,506
55DUNNE Paul IRL+773757271291
€ 47,506
55FRITTELLI Dylan RSA+773707177
291
€ 47,506
58HENLEY Russell USA+869697579
292
€ 45,458
58KUCHAR Matt USA+874747371
292
€ 45,458
60MIYAZATO Yusaku JPN+977727470
293
€ 43,820
60STONE Brandon RSA+975767171
293€ 43,820
62RUMFORD Brett AUS+1378747273
297€ 43,001
63LI Haotong CHN+1473797373
298
€ 42,592
64GREEN Gavin MAS+1578737474
299
€ 42,182

                                                                         
EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS


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