Mickelson's class wins through at BellSouth
IN: News | US PGA | BellSouth Classic (2005) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 05 Apr 2005
For an event that was supposedly shortened, those who chose to stay on at the BellSouth Classic, ended up more than getting their money's worth.
The event would develop into a five man playoff, the largest since 2001 when Robert Allenby defeated five others at the 2001 Nissan. The cut had still not been made on Monday morning when many players were forced to complete round two. The cut eventually came at two over, meaning 75 players would tee off in the third and final round with two tees being necessary to get the event completed by Monday evening.
Heading into round three, two-time winner Scott McCarron led by one from Billy Mayfair, Phil Mickelson and Joe Maria Olazabal. With the weather conditions again near perfect for the final round, especially when compared with the earlier days of the event, McCarron made a slow but steady start until the par four 5th where, after finding the bunker from the tee and flirting with the water short with his second, he eventually took double bogey and his challenge was all but extinguished. When he bogeyed the 9th a few holes later he was doing all he could just to hang on to a good finish.
While the leader self destructed, those around him were on the move.
Arjun Atwal, who was so far back (37th) heading into the last round that he was in the groups teeing off from the 10th tee, was out in 33 to get to three under and the possibility of his best finish this season was very much on the cards. He wasn't about to stop there however. He picked up five more birdies on the way in and when he holed from thirty feet at the 9th hole (his last) and a closing 64, not only was a top finish looking likely but his first win on the USPGA Tour was now a serious prospect. Before long however Olazabal, Lucas Glover and Frank Licklitter had joined him at 8 under with several others closing in. It appeared that the BellSouth may again produce a first time USPGA Tour winner. Atwal and Glover are in their second seasons on tour and although those behind had several holes to play, Atwal was safely in the clubhouse watching those who were chasing, negotiating a back nine that provided both opportunity and danger.
Always there in the back of everyone's mind was Mickelson. His double bogey at the 6th appeared a major hiccup but he bounced back immediately with consecutive birdies and although he turned in one over 37 and at four under, he wasn't exactly out of it and most knew that as well. He clawed his way back into it with birdies at the 10th, 12th, 15th and stood on the last tee, like several others, needing a birdie to at least tie Atwal and Brandt Jobe, the latter who had closed with 67, and who were both in the clubhouse. Like Atwal, Jobe had yet to win on the USPGA Tour but he has been a tournament winner internationally, especially in Japan.
Olazabal was out in even par 36 but when he set his sail for home he was away. Birdies at the 10th, 11th and 13th had him at eight under par before a three putt at the 14th slowed the momentum. He still had the chance however, with the prospect of a birdie at the last, to force a playoff but that birdie would come at the 16th and like Mickelson he stood on the last tee seeking a birdie that would likely win it outright or in Mickelson's case give him a hope of forcing the playoff. Both hit fine drives and after a fruitless five minute search for the ball of playing partner McCarron's in the right hand rough, Mickelson was the first to play and hit a brilliant five wood, which he cut in order to take something off it, to 25 feet behind the hole. Olazabal too, hit a fairway wood on a very attacking line just left of the flag but he was long and was left with a putt from off the back fringe down the green. Olazabal ran his putt five feet by and when Mickelson missed his eagle but made birdie to reach 8 under and a share of the lead at that point, the coast was clear for Olazabal to hole and win by one from Mickelson, Beem, Atwal and Jobe. He pulled it left and all five players headed back to the 18th
Atwal and Jobe went early when they found the water and again Olazabal had a chance to end to it all when faced with a five footer again at the 18th the third of the playoff holes after the 17th became the second in the line up of holes. The Spaniard was eliminated when he found the water with his third and fifth at the third playoff hole (the 18th) and so it was down to Beem and Mickelson to decide the winner.
Beem had not won since his brilliant victory at the PGA Championship at Hazeltine in 2002 and he hadn't exactly set the world on fire this season with an ordinary run of form until now. He would say later however that he had spent a lot of hours working on his game in recent times and this was the result of that effort. It may be that the whirlwind journey he was on after his PGA win, taking advantage of the offers to play everywhere that came his way, took its toll.
Beem found the fairway bunker at the 17th the second time around and did a good job to just miss the green right. Mickelson drove it long and straight and from around 150 yards hit his approach to fifteen feet. Beem pitched to two feet and an assured par and so the stage was Mickelson's to put an end to what had been a long week. He did so and the title was his for the second time in six years.
Olazabal was perhaps the most dejected of the five in the playoff as it had been he who had the chance to end it earlier on two occasions, once in regulation and once in the playoff. He will head to Augusta pleased with his form but disappointed that he wasn't able to finish it off and regain the full status on tour that he does not currently enjoy. He had played here on a sponsor's exemption. He must still be a chance at Augusta but at much shorter odds than was the case a week ago.
For Atwal and Jobe they will be pleased as their significant cheques (US$330,000) will go a long way to full status in 2006 on the USPGA Tour, and Beem too will be pleased to rediscover his long lost form.
For Mickelson however it is further proof of just where his game and course management skills are at. He has the double whammy to overcome this coming week at Augusta of trying to win the same event in consecutive years and trying to win for the second week in a row on the USPGA Tour but somehow he appears very much up to the task.
Of the Australasians Stephen Leaney and Michael Long were the best in 26th place, Steve Elkington 32nd, Gavin Coles, Peter Lonard and Robert Allenby 48th, Brendan Jones 57th and Aaron Baddeley 72nd.
Of those only Lonard and Allenby will drive down to Augusta, the others looking forward perhaps to a start at the Heritage in two weeks time.
