Mickelson finally claims second major
(China Daily)
Updated: 2005-08-17 06:24

SPRINGFIELD, New Jersey: Having waited 14 years to win his first major, Phil Mickelson had no problem with an extra day's delay before clinching his second with a one-shot victory at the weather-hit US PGA Championship on Monday.

Phil Mickelson of the U.S. greets his children on the 18th green after winning the 2005 PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey, August 15, 2005. [Reuters]

Once dubbed the best player never to have won a major, Mickelson, the 2004 US Masters champion, has now claimed two in consecutive years. Both triumphs came in similarly thrilling fashion, with a birdie on the final hole.

It would be hard, though, to imagine a more compelling drama than the one that unfolded at the Baltusrol Golf Club on Monday when 12 players returned to complete the final round after the threat of lightning had forced the year's final major into a fifth day.

Mickelson arrived at the famed Lower Course holding a one-shot lead over Australia's Steve Elkington and Denmark's Thomas Bjorn. He left with the same margin, but also in charge of the prized Wannamaker Trophy and a winner's cheque for US$1.17 million.

"It's an amazing feeling to be the winner and to be able to hold this trophy," said Mickelson, who completed his final round in two-over-par 72 to finish at four-under 276.

"It was a fun week but very stressful and having the lead after each night just added to the stress, the difficulty and challenge of it, which is why things feel so good right now.

"The next major isn't for seven months. I just want to relish this and enjoy the fact that, for the next seven months, I'm the most recent winner."

With Elkington (71) and Bjorn (72) in the clubhouse at three under, Mickelson stepped on to the par-five 18th tee needing a birdie to seal his second major championship and thundered his opening drive straight down the middle.

Deep rough

Tapping the Jack Nicklaus plaque embedded in the centre of the fairway for good luck, Mickelson might have hoped for better fortune when his second shot sailed into deep greenside rough.

There was no panic, however, as the ice-cool Mickelson responded with a perfect pitch to leave him a straightforward three-foot putt for the title.

As the sun broke through the cloud cover to bathe the 18th green in sunlight, Mickelson drained the putt and acknowledged his first U.S. PGA title with a small fist pump and a big sigh of relief.

"To win here where Jack Nicklaus has won a couple of times, I touched his plaque there on 18 just to get some good karma, makes it a memorable and very special week for me," said Mickelson, who was mobbed by his three children who raced onto the green.

"When I hit the second shot on 18, I knew I needed a birdie to win," added Mickelson, who moved ahead of Ernie Els to number three in the world rankings with his triumph.

"I've struggled out of the rough this week because it's very difficult here but, for that third shot, I went in aggressive, the ball popped up beautifully, landed softly and trickled by the hole."

Moments earlier, Bjorn, bidding to become the first European to win the tournament since Scotland-born Tommy Armour 75 years ago, and Elkington, the 1995 champion, had faced birdie putts on the 18th green and a chance to put extra pressure on Mickelson.

Elkington's birdie attempt from 10 feet slipped wide while Bjorn watched agonised as his 20-footer slowly lipped the cup.

Last guy

"There's a lot to be said to be the last guy out there, he has the final say," said Elkington. "Thomas and I both had good chances to birdie 18, but we couldn't do it."

The overcast, cool conditions that greeted the players on Monday were in sharp contrast to the sweltering record-breaking temperatures they endured over the first four days of the tournament.

Mickelson got his day off to a positive start when he returned to the 14th green, calmly tapping in a three-foot putt for par.

However, the 35-year-old Californian relinquished the lead when he bogeyed the par-three 16th after finding a bunker off the tee and was deadlocked with Elkington at three under.

That would be his only wobble, though. Mickelson held his nerve over the closing par-fives, lipping out with his birdie attempt on 17 before securing his fourth PGA Tour win of the season.

"You know, Phil deserves this more than anybody," said the Dane. "He's not a one-major guy; he's a 10-major guy. He's going to go on now and contend for majors as he's always done, but it's going to be easier and easier for him to win them now."

The softer conditions proved tricky for Bjorn and defending champion Vijay Singh, who missed short par putts on 15 and 16 respectively to slide down the leaderboard.

Although Bjorn recovered with a birdie on 17 to get back into the chase, Fijian Singh was never able to find his rhythm and ended his round with another bogey on 18 for a 74 and a share of 10th at even-par 280.

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