bad_meetz_evil
04-03-2006, 06:51 AM
DULUTH, Georgia (AP) -- Phil Mickelson completed his dominant BellSouth Classic victory Sunday with a score worthy of being remembered as more than just a Masters momentum-builder.
Mickelson's final-round 65 gave him a 28-under 260 total, one stroke from the best 72-hole total for a par-72 course in U.S. PGA Tour history.
Mickelson capped his 65 with an eagle putt on 18, his second eagle of the day.
Jose Maria Olazabal and Zach Johnson finished 13 strokes behind in second at 15-under 273. Olazabal, who had a 69 Sunday, also tied for second in the BellSouth last year, losing in a five-man playoff won by Mickelson.
Johnson had a 70 Sunday.
Mickelson made the most of his last chance to use the BellSouth Classic as a warmup for next week's Masters. He matched the course record with an opening 63 Thursday and was 5 under or better every day while winning his second straight BellSouth title.
The left-hander's first win of the year made him the tournament's first three-time champion. He also won the BellSouth 2000.
Mickelson said playing the TPC at Sugarloaf helped prepare him for his 2004 Masters win -- his first victory in a major. Boosted by his best 72-hole score, he will rank as one of the favorites in Augusta this week.
J.J. Henry and Retief Goosen tied for fourth at 14-under 274. Goosen moved up with a 66 Sunday. Jonathan Byrd bogeyed three straight holes on the back 9 for a 73 to finish sixth at 12 under.
Mickelson had an eagle and two birdies on his first five holes of the back nine, when play was halted due to the threat of lightning.
At the time of the delay, he was 27 under, leaving him with five holes to match the PGA Tour's 72-hole record for a par 72 of 29-under 259 by Joe Durant in the 90-hole Bob Hope Classic in 2001 and by Tim Herron in the same tournament in 2003.
The Bob Hope Classic is played on four courses.
Mickelson tied the PGA Tour's best four-round total on one par-72 course, set previously with a 28-under 260 by John Huston in the 1998 Hawaiian Open.
His record chase moved into focus after his eagle on No. 13 left him 26 under with six holes to play. He added a birdie on 14 and was on the 15th tee when play was halted.
The 45-minute delay, which included a short but heavy rain, cooled Mickelson's hot streak. He bogeyed No. 15 and had two pars before his dramatic eagle finish.
No one from the pack competing for second place made a sustained charge at Mickelson.
Byrd moved to 15 under with an eagle on the par-5 fourth, but he fell back with a bogey on the next hole.
Olazabal was at 14 under after two early birdies, but he suffered a double bogey on No. 9.
Goosen climbed from eighth to third with two birdies and an eagle on the front nine. He shot a 66 to finish 14 under.
David Toms, the fourth-leading money winner on the tour who opened with a 75 Thursday, was 12 under the last three days. His 67 Sunday left him at 9-under 279.
Luke Donald, No. 8 on the money list, had a 66 Sunday to finish 10 under.
Mickelson's final-round 65 gave him a 28-under 260 total, one stroke from the best 72-hole total for a par-72 course in U.S. PGA Tour history.
Mickelson capped his 65 with an eagle putt on 18, his second eagle of the day.
Jose Maria Olazabal and Zach Johnson finished 13 strokes behind in second at 15-under 273. Olazabal, who had a 69 Sunday, also tied for second in the BellSouth last year, losing in a five-man playoff won by Mickelson.
Johnson had a 70 Sunday.
Mickelson made the most of his last chance to use the BellSouth Classic as a warmup for next week's Masters. He matched the course record with an opening 63 Thursday and was 5 under or better every day while winning his second straight BellSouth title.
The left-hander's first win of the year made him the tournament's first three-time champion. He also won the BellSouth 2000.
Mickelson said playing the TPC at Sugarloaf helped prepare him for his 2004 Masters win -- his first victory in a major. Boosted by his best 72-hole score, he will rank as one of the favorites in Augusta this week.
J.J. Henry and Retief Goosen tied for fourth at 14-under 274. Goosen moved up with a 66 Sunday. Jonathan Byrd bogeyed three straight holes on the back 9 for a 73 to finish sixth at 12 under.
Mickelson had an eagle and two birdies on his first five holes of the back nine, when play was halted due to the threat of lightning.
At the time of the delay, he was 27 under, leaving him with five holes to match the PGA Tour's 72-hole record for a par 72 of 29-under 259 by Joe Durant in the 90-hole Bob Hope Classic in 2001 and by Tim Herron in the same tournament in 2003.
The Bob Hope Classic is played on four courses.
Mickelson tied the PGA Tour's best four-round total on one par-72 course, set previously with a 28-under 260 by John Huston in the 1998 Hawaiian Open.
His record chase moved into focus after his eagle on No. 13 left him 26 under with six holes to play. He added a birdie on 14 and was on the 15th tee when play was halted.
The 45-minute delay, which included a short but heavy rain, cooled Mickelson's hot streak. He bogeyed No. 15 and had two pars before his dramatic eagle finish.
No one from the pack competing for second place made a sustained charge at Mickelson.
Byrd moved to 15 under with an eagle on the par-5 fourth, but he fell back with a bogey on the next hole.
Olazabal was at 14 under after two early birdies, but he suffered a double bogey on No. 9.
Goosen climbed from eighth to third with two birdies and an eagle on the front nine. He shot a 66 to finish 14 under.
David Toms, the fourth-leading money winner on the tour who opened with a 75 Thursday, was 12 under the last three days. His 67 Sunday left him at 9-under 279.
Luke Donald, No. 8 on the money list, had a 66 Sunday to finish 10 under.