Phil Mickelson held off the challenge of fellow American Nick Watney to win the WGC-CA Championship at Doral.
Leftie overcomes treatment for dehydration to break WGC duck
Phil Mickelson held off the challenge of fellow American Nick Watney to win the WGC-CA Championship by one shot at Doral.
The left-hander carded a second successive 69 despite spending Saturday night in a local hospital because he was suffering from heat exhaustion.
His final 19-under-par total of 269 was good enough to clinch him his first World Golf Championship at the 27th time of asking.
Watney had pushed his compatriot hard throughout, coming close to a dramatic birdie at the 18th that could have forced a play-off.
Just short
However, his putt ended up just one revolution short of rolling in the hole, meaning Mickelson had two shots to secure his second title of 2009 and the 36th of his PGA Tour career.
Having started the final day with a four-shot cushion, the joint-leaders became locked in a topsy-turvy battle that started out with two birdies at the first.
The lead changed hands a total of three times on the front nine before the drama really began to unfold after they had reached the turn.
Watney managed an excellent eagle at the 10th to move back level - only to immediately fall behind again with a careless bogey at the next.
With the pressure now firmly on both men felt the strain at the 12th, Mickelson managing a six after being forced to play one shot out of the rough right-handed. Watney could only match the efforts of his playing partner, though, taking two attempts to get out of a greenside bunker.
A succession of pars meant the destiny of the trophy came down to the last where a play-off was only prevented by the smallest of margins.
"I just tried to hit the putt proper speed, putt it out how I normally would. Unfortunately it came up a little short," Watney said afterwards.
Mickelson was understandably delighted to finally break his WGC duck having struggled with his health throughout Sunday's action.
"I fought hard all day and wasn't really able to pay attention to some of the great shots that Nick hit because I was so worried about keeping my energy level high and steady throughout the round," he said.
"I haven't eaten much in three days and I fought hard. I knew I was playing some of my best golf coming in here and I was playing well so I'm very excited to have finished it off."
Jim Furyk managed five birdies on the back nine to briefly threaten to make it a three-way battle. In the end, the American had to settle for third place.
Leading European
Jeev Milkha Singh finished in fourth on 14-under with England's Oliver Wilson the leading European a further shot back, alongside Camilo Villegas.
Having struggled at the start of the tournament, Tiger Woods continued his improvement on his return from injury with a second straight 68.
The world number one's efforts over the weekend saw him finish in a tie for ninth with Rod Pampling of Australia and fellow American Kenny Perry - maintaining his record of always finishing in the top 10, both in WGC stroke play events and at the Blue Monster course.
"I hit a lot of good golf shots today. I hit the ball better than I did the first three days," Woods said.
Ian Poulter concluded his efforts with a score of 69 to finish on 10-under, one shot ahead of Rory McIlroy, who bogeyed the last for a final-round 73, and his Ryder Cup team-mate Padraig Harrington.
