Mickelson wins 21st title at Hartford
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2002 Greater Hartford Open | Wrap | 24 Jun 2002
The number two player in the world but perhaps the number one loved golfer, Phil Mickelson won his 21st event on the USPGA Tour with a come-from-behind win at the River Highlands course.
Starting the last round tied in fifth place behind the leader Jonathan Kaye, Mickelson reeled off six birdies, an eagle and two bogies in his final round and in fact had telegraphed his intentions early with two birdies and an eagle in the first seven holes. At that stage he had caught Kaye, but to the lesser-experienced players credit, he fought back with an eagle on the thirteenth and still had a chance to tie Mickelson at the last but a twelve-foot birdie opportunity went begging. Mickelson coming off his fine effort last week in New York put the disappointment of that behind him and became the first player in the long history of the tournament to successfully defend his title. The reception for Mickelson was deafening as he walked towards the last green after having nearly holed his second from 110 yards.
For Kaye it was a case of another second on the PGA Tour and still looking for his first win. He joined the Tour in 1995 after an amateur career that included interestingly enough a win over Mickelson in the 1992 Ping Intercollegiate Championship. In that first season on tour he had finished second at Quad Cities but the promising start to his career was curtailed by rotator cuff surgery in 1996. Finally regained his card by finishing second at the 1998 Tour School and has been able to retain it since. His form this season has been all over the place, missing six of thirteen cuts, but a fifth place at the Kemper a few weeks ago, suggested that things were on the improve.
Davis Love also had his chance to birdie the last and tie Mickelson but a weak second shot from 100 yards provided only an outside opportunity to force the playoff, which did not happen.
Mickelson’s win took his earnings for the year beyond $US3,600,000 and he closes to within $US400,000 of Woods’s $US4,055,000. Mind you he has played eighteen events compared to Woods eleven. Only one other player inside the top ten, namely Chris Di Marco, has played as many events as Mickelson this year.
Mattie Goggin who, apart from a good start to the year on the USPGA Tour where he was eighth at Pebble Beach and 22nd at Torrey Pines has battled to find form, secured a cheque for $US72,000 with his tie for 13th, and now has earnings for the season of $US245,000. Still $200,000 short of what he will need but progress is being made.
Peter Lonard, perhaps a disappointing finish to another good week, but still 20th and another $US40,000 taking his earnings beyond $US900,000. Frank Nobilo was also 20th, Steve Allan and Paul Gow who both found form were 27th, Grant Waite 39th, and Steve Elkington 54th. Paul Gow seems to have turned the corner in the last few weeks, finishing 25th at the Buick and making the field for the US Open. After a shocking start to the year he has an uphill battle to retain his card this year, but now appears to be back on track.
