Triumphant Mickelson holds off Tiger in Boston
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2007 Deutsche Bank Championship | Round Four | 04 Sep 2007
In what developed into a classic duel between the world number one (Tiger Woods) and now number two golfer (Phil Mickelson), Mickelson has won the second event of the FedEx Cup Series, the Deutsche Bank Championship, by two shots over Tiger Woods, Aaron Oberholser and Brett Wetterich.
Afterwards, Mickelson was particularly candid when commenting on the fact that he had held Woods off down the stretch.
“My record over Tiger over the last ten years has been pathetic,” he told the NBC reporter soon after signing his scorecard. That was an admission in itself but when he then added the fact that he has not yet decided whether he would play at next week’s BMW Championship, the plot thickened further.
Clearly Mickelson has issues with Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem.
“I’m a little conflicted on some things because I’m trying to—I want to have a balance in my life, and I certainly feel the obligation to play and support the FedEx Cup and to support the PGA TOUR, support the game of golf.”
“I also want to have balance in my family life, and my family has sacrificed a lot this year because it’s been a very difficult schedule. It’s not the four FedExCup tournaments; it’s the PGA and Akron right before that, only four days off after the British Open before we had to travel and playing two weeks before that, so it’s been the last three months having no more than two days off at a time and working to do corporate outings in between.”
“So our time together has struggled, and I want to have a balance there. They (his children) start school next week, so I have that conflict – or obligation and desire to be there.”
“My frustration from this past year came from asking for a couple of things in the FedExCup that weren’t done and not really feeling all that bad now if I happen to miss. So I’m not really sure how it’s going to play out,” he added referring to whether he would play next week or not.
“I’m excited about the way this week went. I loved this finish, I loved being able to play three rounds with the best player of arguably all time and certainly the best player in the world today, and to be able to come out on top feels great, and that just leads to excitement for the coming here, as well as I guess the finish of the year.”
“But ‘08 is when our next major is, so that’s kind of what I’m looking forward to.”
Despite a double bogey at his 12th hole today, Mickelson was particularly impressive in the face of a determined Woods challenge today more especially over the closing holes when the pair squared off in a thrust and counter-thrust battle.
Not that the roles of Aaron Oberholser or Brett Wetterich in this event should be forgotten or diminished in any way, shape or form but given the history between Mickelson and Woods this day was set up as an intriguing battle from the moment it was confirmed that the two would play with each other in today’s final round.
Mickelson appeared to have control of the tournament when he birdied five of the first ten holes today to move to 16 under and led by four over Wetterich and Oberholser and by five over Woods.
A double bogey at the 12th by Mickelson changed the face of the tournament and ensured that the event would come down to the wire.
The 16th perhaps more than any other hole gave an indication that Mickelson was not about to succumb. Woods’s tee shot at the par three finished 10 feet behind the hole. Mickelson responded with something better to 5 feet and when both converted the difference was still two. Woods had another chance at the 17th but hit a poor putt from 10 feet and was still two behind.
Mickelson knew he had to hold off not only Tiger but Oberholser who had birdied the 16th to move within one. He chose to go for the green at the par five last with a fairway wood. He missed the green but made a very good up and down for birdie and the margin remained at two. Oberholser needed an eagle at the last to catch Mickelson or a birdie to take second place on his own but could only manage par.
Mickelson won by two shots over Woods, Wetterich and Oberholser and takes the lead in the FedEx Cup Series.
Aaron Baddeley still had a chance with a few holes to play but a double bogey at the 14th left him too much to do. He finished alone in 5th place and was the leading Australian just ahead of the in-form Geoff Ogilvy who finished in a share of 6th with Rory Sabbatini.
Robert Allenby returned from the wilderness to finish 8th after a horror run in recent months. Allenby started the year so well but this was just his second top ten in his last fourteen starts.
Nathan Green finished 17th in what was a good weekend for him, his rounds of 67 and 69 making considerable ground and money for him. Adam Scott was also 17th, Steve Elkington and John Senden were 23rd and Rod Pampling 41st.
The FedEx Cup Series now moves to Cog Hill in Chicago for the BMW Championship.
Nine Australians have made it to the next stage including Geoff Ogilvy, Adam Scott, Aaron Baddeley, Robert Allenby, Stuart Appleby, Rod Pampling, Nathan Green, John Senden and Nick O’Hern. Peter Lonard slipped to 72nd and will not play in Chicago.
