Tiger Woods has put himself among the greatest legends in golf history but he continues to go belly up in recent head-to-head battles with Phil Mickelson.
Mickelson has won their past five meetings when they have gone head-to-head in the final round of a tournament, including yesterday's come-from-behind win at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am and at the 2009 Masters.
''I am inspired playing with him,'' four-time major winner Mickelson said. ''I think most people are, but he seems to bring out the best in me and the last four or five years, I've played some of my best golf playing with him.''
Mickelson and Woods were first paired together in the fourth round of the 1997 PGA Championship, where they both shot 75s. In 30 such career pairings, they are now level at 13-13-4 in who scores better. ''I just seem more focused,'' Mickelson said. ''His level of play is so much greater when he's playing his best than anybody else's. That forces me to focus on my game more intently, and hit more precise shots.''
That's exactly what he did yesterday at Pebble Beach as Mickelson rallied from a six-shot deficit at the start the day to win by two strokes over runner-up Charlie Wi for his first victory since last April's Houston Open. The 41-year-old American fired a final-round eight-under par 64 for a 17-under total of 269 while Woods closed with a disappointing three-over 75 to finish tied for 15th spot.
American Ricky Barnes (67) finished on 273 for third place while Aaron Baddeley was the best-placed Australian, finishing fourth on 274 after a strong final round in which he fired seven birdies for five-under par 67. AFP
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