Golf

Mickelson conquers Pebble Beach to take 44th PGA Tour win

Final pairing had to return to the course on Monday morning to finish the fourth round

Phil Mickelson claimed his 44th PGA Tour victory on Monday when he saw off Paul Casey in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Photo: Chris Trotman/Getty Images

Mon Feb 11 2019 - 18:47

Phil Mickelson won the Pebble Beach Pro-Am by three strokes on Monday, equalling Mark O’Meara’s record of five victories in the northern California event.

Mickelson recorded his 44th PGA Tour triumph in style with a closing seven-under-par 65 at Pebble Beach.

“This really is a special place for me, going back to 1919 when my grandfather was one of the initial caddies here,” the 48-year-old said after becoming the oldest winner of the event.

“This was the first event for me as a pro. To win here this week is something I’m going to cherish.”

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Mickelson finished at 19-under 268, while Englishman Paul Casey (71) birdied the final hole for second place on 16-under.

Mickelson poses with his trophy and Clint Eastwood on the 18th green. Photo: Eric Risberg/AP Photo

Mickelson and Casey were the only players who did not complete the weather-delayed event on Sunday night.

Casey resumed with a three-foot par putt at the 16th hole on Monday, while Mickelson had already completed the hole.

They both parred the 17th and then birdied the par-five 18th, Mickelson sealing the win by rolling in a six-foot putt as former local mayor and actor Clint Eastwood looked on from the television tower.

“It means a lot to me to play the final round as focused and as well as I did,” said Mickelson, who started the final round three strokes behind Casey.

Mickelson had wanted to finish in the dark on Sunday and was left frustrated when Casey refused to play on – but a day later he understood the Englishman’s stand.

“I thanked Paul this morning because I sometimes in my own little bubble I don’t see the big picture,” Mickelson said.

“He really protected both of us. The greens were beat up (on Sunday). We had a chance to come out today on fresh greens, better weather and be able to see a lot better.”

The five-times major champion will get a chance to complete the career grand slam when the U.S. Open is played at Pebble Beach in June, but Mickelson wants to savour his latest success first.

“Every time I get here I have such feelings of gratitude that all that this place has done for my family, starting with my grandfather,” he said.

Graeme McDowell closed at eight under after a fourth-round one-under-par 71 to finish in a tie for 18th. The 2010 US Open champion will tee it up in Puerto Rico next week in the PGA Tour event which runs alongside the WGC Mexico Championship for which he is ineligible.

Former world number one Jason Day finished in a tie for fourth on 13 under with Kim Si-woo.

Collated final round scores & totals in the USPGA Tour AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Pebble Beach GL, Pebble Beach, California (USA unless stated, par 72):

268 Phil Mickelson 65 68 70 65

271 Paul Casey (Eng) 69 64 67 71

272 Scott Stallings 67 70 69 66

274 Jason Day (Aus) 65 69 72 68, Si Woo Kim (Kor) 66 71 69 68

275 Scott Langley 64 69 73 69

276 Lucas Glover 68 66 70 72, Brian Gay 64 72 69 71, Kevin Streelman 70 70 71 65

277 Chris Stroud 69 71 67 70, Michael Thompson 70 72 69 66, Max Homa 73 69 68 67, Scott Piercy 70 65 69 73

278 Jim Furyk 72 68 68 70, Sung Kang (Kor) 69 69 69 71, Matt Every 65 71 69 73, Russell Knox (Sco) 68 70 68 72

279 Graeme McDowell (NIrl) 68 70 70 71, Roberto Diaz (Mex) 69 69 71 70, Adam Hadwin (Can) 72 70 65 72, D.J. Trahan 68 72 72 67

280 Trey Mullinax 71 68 73 68, Matt Kuchar 67 73 70 70, Jonathan Byrd 69 69 68 74, Rafael Cabrera-Bello (Spa) 69 68 69 74, Tyler Duncan 71 68 70 71, Patrick Reed 68 70 73 69

281 Branden Grace (Rsa) 67 69 71 74, Brady Schnell 67 72 72 70, Cameron Champ 73 69 70 69, Tom Lovelady 72 70 70 69, Ernie Els (Rsa) 69 68 73 71, Curtis Luck (Aus) 70 67 73 71, Martin Trainer 69 73 66 73, Nick Taylor (Can) 69 70 71 71, Kevin Kisner 65 71 74 71, Brandon Harkins 69 73 67 72

282 Tony Finau 69 73 70 70, Julian Etulain (Arg) 71 72 69 70, Andrew Putnam 75 70 66 71, Hank Lebioda 71 69 71 71, Sam Saunders 69 70 72 71, Jonas Blixt (Swe) 67 69 76 70, Chez Reavie 68 70 71 73

283 Brian Stuard 69 70 73 71, Adam Schenk 70 72 67 74, Benjamin Silverman (Can) 70 71 69 73, Nate Lashley 67 71 73 72, Dustin Johnson 66 73 73 71, Tommy Fleetwood (Eng) 73 68 71 71, Jordan Spieth 66 68 74 75, Josh Teater 70 70 71 72

284 Matt Jones (Aus) 71 71 70 72, Roberto Castro 68 70 72 74, Cameron Tringale 71 68 72 73, Alex Prugh 69 72 68 75

285 Johnson Wagner 67 73 71 74

286 John Rollins 73 69 70 74

290 Cody Gribble 66 73 73 78, Cameron Davis (Aus) 72 68 72 78