Golf

A major hat trick

By BOB HARIG
Published April 10, 2006

AUGUSTA, Ga. - The suffocating pressure had subsided, a round of near-perfection approaching its completion. Phil Mickelson could soak in the cheers, his walk to glory unspoiled. One of the greatest settings in golf was his to be enjoyed.

There was no pulse-raising finish at Augusta National on Sunday, no drama on the final hole. Mickelson had only to put the finishing strokes on his third major championship and second Masters title to make it official.

And then came the perk that might have been best of all: having last year's champion, Tiger Woods, help with the green jacket, a ceremony that had to have more significance than he would ever let on.

For too much of his career, Mickelson had to witness such an occasion and wonder what it would be like. Too many times, Woods stood in his way.

Now he could celebrate consecutive major championships, knowing he had held off several of golf's best, including Woods, Retief Goosen, Vijay Singh, Ernie Els and a resurgent Fred Couples.

"I certainly enjoyed having the jacket put on me rather than putting it on (someone else)," Mickelson said.

"I love the chance to compete against guys like Tiger, guys like Retief and Ernie and Vijay and Fred who are playing so well. It gives me an incredible feeling of accomplishment to come out on top this week."

It was far from easy, but Mickelson never trailed after taking the lead Sunday morning during the conclusion to the third round of the 70th Masters. He finished with 3-under-par 69, emerging from a five-way tie on the front nine, pulling away from Couples on the back nine and taking one meaningless bogey at the 18th hole for a two-stroke victory over South Africa's Tim Clark.

The victory was Mickelson's second in a row, following a 13-shot romp last week at the BellSouth Classic, and the 29th of his PGA Tour career. It was also his second straight major championship, following last summer's PGA Championship at Baltusrol in Springfield, N.J.

"I'm having the best time right now playing golf," said Mickelson, 35, who had been 0-for-42 in his career in the majors but now has won three of the past nine.

Couples, paired with Mickelson, seemingly matched him shot for shot but could not get it done on the greens, missing several makeable putts that ultimately cost him a chance at his second Masters. That would have made him the oldest at age 46 - by three months over Jack Nicklaus - to win at Augusta.

One of the biggest moments came at the 14th hole, where Couples knocked his approach to 4 feet for a birdie that would have brought him within one stroke with four holes to go. Instead, he not only missed the putt, but also missed the par putt, giving Mickelson a three-shot advantage.

"I felt at least from tee to green I was close if not a little better," said Couples, who has 15 PGA Tour titles. "These guys who win this thing ... you've got to putt well. I felt like ... I wasn't horrible, I was mediocre. I couldn't get any to go in the hole and get momentum."

Couples settled for a third-place tie with fellow major-winners Woods, Goosen, Jose Maria Olazabal and three-time PGA Tour winner Chad Campbell, who led by three after Friday's second round.

Mickelson finished 72 holes at 281, 7-under par. He entered the final round with a one-stroke lead over Couples, but a slew of players were in contention, including the other members of the Big Five, all of whom were within four strokes.

But although several threatened, nobody could overtake Mickelson, who earned $1.26-million from the $7-million purse, moved atop the PGA Tour money list (he has never won a money title) and will be ranked second in the world behind Woods.

At one point during the tournament, Clark had reached 6-under par and was leading. But he was unable to sustain it during the conclusion to the third round, shooting 40 on the back nine to fall two back of Mickelson heading into the final round. He never got closer.

"Coming out here, I really felt I had a great chance to win and obviously there will always be little bit of disappointment not winning," he said.

Mickelson knows all about that. Much of his career was spent answering questions about why he had never won a major championship.

Then he won the Masters two years ago, dropping an 18-foot birdie putt on the final hole to edge Els by a stroke. He contended at the rest of the majors that year, got another one at the PGA last year, and is halfway to the Tiger Slam - victories in four consecutive majors.

Mickelson wasn't ready to talk about that. Not yet.

"I felt a sense of relief after I broke through and won a major and (Sunday) felt this great feeling of accomplishment," said Mickelson, just the sixth player to win a major in three straight seasons. "I'm having so much fun being able to compete for major championships, it's just incredible. And to win a couple now ... it's just an amazing feeling."

[Last modified April 10, 2006, 01:57:35]