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Phil Mickelson won the 2000 Buick
Invitational with a final round 70, thus ending one of the
most publicized winning streaks in golf in years, Tiger Woods
six wins in a row. Mickelson collected a first-place check
of $540,000, the largest of his career.
Woods made a run at his 7th straight win
by getting to 15-under par, and a share of the lead, through
13 holes today with
birdies on #1, #6, #9, #12, and #13. In the meantime,
Mickelson had depleted a 7-shot lead after six holes with
double-bogeys on #7 and #11, sliding down from 19-under
to 15-under.
But after #13, Tiger bogeyed #14 and #16 and then
finished with a birdie on #18 for a final score 274 (14-under).
"To be honest with you, to even be under par, as good as was
hitting it today, it was kind of a miracle", said Woods. "If
I remember correctly, through 14 holes I think I hit six greens",
he added. "I was 5-under. That's not bad. But I wasn't hitting
it good enough to give myself a viable chance down the stretch, and
it finally caught up with me".
Mickelson came back from his earlier mistakes with
birdies on #13, #14, #17, and #18, and a lone bogey on #16.
His final score 270 (18-under) bettered Tiger's score and
that of Shigeki Maruyama. The Japanese player had an indifferent
day shooting even par 72 and a total of 274, tying Woods for
second place.
The 13th hole proved to be the crucial hole one
more time at this tournament. Woods birdied it to get to 15-under and, at
the time, a share of the lead. Mickelson also made birdie there,
which brought his confidence back enabling him to finish strong.
"My thinking was that I needed to birdie the two par-5", said
Mickelson. "And I needed to hit that fairway on #13".
But he missed the fairway and laid up to the bottom of the swale,
about 116 yards from the hole. "The big turnaround for me was
knocking that 9-iron from about 116 yards to about three feet.
And after making that putt I felt I was back in control of my
game", said Mickelson.
This is the 14th win in Phil Mickelson's career.
A jump-start
after going winless on the PGA TOUR in 1999. He also became the
sixth golfer to win this tournament twice in 48 years. His previous
win was in 1993. The other players who won this tournament twice
are Tommy Bolt ('52,'55), Arnold Palmer ('57,'61), J.C. Snead ('75,
'76), Tom Watson ('77,'80), and Steve Pate ('88, '92).
Notes
- Scorecards - Leaders 4th Round:
|
South Course
|
| Hole |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
OUT |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
IN |
TOT |
| Par |
4 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
36 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
36 |
72 |
| Yardage |
447 |
365 |
173 |
453 |
404 |
535 |
453 |
171 |
536 |
3559 |
373 |
207 |
468 |
535 |
398 |
389 |
203 |
425 |
498 |
3496 |
7055 |
| Mickelson |
4 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
6 |
3 |
5 |
35 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
35 |
70 |
| Woods |
3 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
33 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
35 |
68 |
| Maruyama |
4 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
37 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
35 |
72 |
- South Course Performance
- Most Difficult Hole: 7th (4.329)
- Easiest Hole: 18th (4.550)
- Eagles: 28 (1 on #2, 4 on #6, 5 on #9, 6 on #13, 12 on #18)
- Stroke Average: 71.852a
- The eagle on #2 was made by Bobby Kalinowski (Friday).
- North Course Performance
- Most Difficult Hole: 11th (4.294)
- Easiest Hole: 14th (4.529)
- Eagles: 10 (2 on #1, 1 on #2, 1 on #9, 3 on #14, 3 on #18)
- Stroke Average: 71.216
- The eagle on #2 was made by Sean Murphy (Friday).
- Buick Player's Challenge: The competition took place
at hole #3, North Course. The surprise participants were Mully,
the Buick's mascot. Mully is a golf professional, trick-shot artist
from Florida. Scott Simpson made a special appearance. Scott,
the 1998 Buick Invitational Champion,
had withdrawn from this year's tournament due to a leg injury (skiing
accident). He's the third local player injured during a skiing accident
(Mickelson, Stadler). The event was MC's by Channel 8 (local CBS)
sportscaster Hank Bauer.
Dennis Paulson won the overall event and $3,000 by prevailing in the
Long-Iron, Bunker Pitch, and Sand Shot competitions. The Long-Putt contest
was won by Gary Hallberg (1983 Buick Invitational Champion) and Mully.
They both holed a 50-foot putt and finished tied for 4th place in the
overall standings ($1,100 each). The Lefty-Righty contest (chip-shot
with opposite-side swing) was won by Scott Simpson, who earned 3rd
place overall ($1,400). Other players participating in this event were
Chip Beck (2nd place, $2,000), Ben Crenshaw (6th, $800), and
Craig Stadler (7th, $600).
Mully showed to be a very talented ball striker. He hit his long-iron
shot by dropping a ball off his mouth and hitting it before it reached
the ground. The 150-yard shot finished about 8 feet from the hole. He
also hit a chip-shot off Hank Bauer's butt. The shot sailed too long.
- Wednesday Pro-Am: The team with professional Tom Pernice Jr
won on the South Course with a net 55. The amateurs were George Shire, John
Weitzel, rod Muller and John Mohrlang. The competiton on the North Course
was won by Charles Raulerson's team, with amateurs Sean Reily, Roger
Lackey, Mickey Ganiel, and Bill Dodge.
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