Mickelson storms to Tour Championship title
Sunday, 27 September 2009Phil Mickelson spectacularly burst through the field with four birdies in seven holes on the front nine before winning the Tour Championship by three shots on Sunday.
Four strokes off the pace overnight, Mickelson fired a sparkling five-under-par 65 at a breezy East Lake Golf Club to clinch his third PGA Tour victory of the year and 37th of his career.
He chipped in from just off the 16th green for his fifth birdie of the day before posting a nine-under total of 271 in the Tour's fourth and final playoff event of the season.
World number one Tiger Woods birdied two of the last four holes for a 70 to finish second - but he did have the consolation of the biggest prize in golf, financially speaking. By winning the season-long points race for the FedExCup, Woods earned a $10 million bonus.
Padraig Harrington fought his way back into contention with some scintillating golf on the back nine, posting birdies at 11, 14 and 15, but he could not catch up with Mickelson's brilliant round, finally in a tie for fourth spot with overnight leader Kenny Perry on four under par, five behind the winner.
