The Hindu : Sport / Golf : Phil Mickelson holds off Els to triumph

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Phil Mickelson holds off Els to triumph

Randhawa, with an even-par final round, finishes tied 19th

— Photo: AP

CHAMPION: Phil Mickelson poses with trophy after winning the WGC-HSBC Champions golf tournament in Shanghai on Sunday.

SHANGHAI: Phil Mickelson held off a resurgent Ernie Els in a thrilling finale to win both the WGC-HSBC Champions on Sunday and a personal battle with fellow American Tiger Woods, who faded to finish sixth.

The World No. 2 showed nerves of steel to claim the $1.2 million winner’s cheque by a stroke from the South African after hitting 69 for a 17-under-par total of 271.

Mickelson becomes the first person to win the tournament — upgraded this year to a World Golf Championship event — twice, after his triumph in 2007.

Meanwhile, a top five finish that seemed so imminent slipped through the fingers of a nervy Jyoti Randhawa, who signed off tied 19th with an even-par final round.

Els, desperate to win his first tournament this year and keep intact his commendable record of taking a title every year since he turned professional in 1989, had only himself to blame for finishing second.

Bad final hole

He went to the 18th with a one-stroke lead but found the water after botching his approach to the green and finished with a bogey, spoiling an otherwise immaculate course record-matching round of 63.

USPGA Tour stalwart Ryan Moore came third after his 68 left him on 15 under, while Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy powered himself up the leaderboard with a 63 to come fourth, a stroke further back.

Woods, who started two behind Mickelson, faded with an error-strewn front nine.

He recovered on the way home but a bogey at the last summed up a frustrating day for the World No. 1 and he ended with a 72 in joint sixth, five off the pace alongside Germany’s Martin Kaymer.

The victory was another personal triumph for Mickelson, who has had a difficult season interrupted by a break to care for his wife and mother who were both diagnosed with breast cancer.

The win also marks his second in a row over Woods, after narrowly beating him at the last tournament they played together, the Tour Championships in September.

Nerves got the better of Randhawa, who blew off a good start to slip down the leaderboard, even though his exploit was good enough to finish ahead of the likes of Sergio Garcia (281) and Padraig Harrington (282) with a total of eight-under 280.

Jeev tied 33rd

Among other Indians, Jeev Milkha Singh was the next best-placed at tied 33rd after turning in a two-under 70 for the second consecutive day.

Jeev picked up four birdies against a couple of bogeys to finish with a total of three-under 285.

But the nightmare continued for Gaganjeet Bhullar and C. Muniyappa, both of whom returned over-par cards yet again to sign off tied 74th with totals of 12-over 300.

While Bhullar carded a 74, Muniyappa was even worse with a 79 on the final day. — Agencies

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