Phil Mickelson survived a double-bogey at the 12th hole and a late challenge by world No 1 Tiger Woods to win the Deutsche Bank Championship by two shots on Monday.

 

 

One stroke off the pace at the start of another sun-drenched day at the TPC Boston, Mickelson overhauled his rivals with a five-under-par 66 to clinch his 32nd PGA Tour title and third of the season.

 

The left-hander birdied three of the first five holes on his way to a 16-under total of 268, finishing two ahead of fellow Americans Woods (67), Arron Oberholser (69) and overnight leader Brett Wetterich (70).

 

Woods, hunting his third consecutive victory, birdied three of the last five holes but took 31 putts in total after struggling on the greens for much of the day in the second leg of the inaugural four-event FedexCup playoff series.

 

"For 10 years I've struggled against Tiger," Mickelson told reporters after earning a cheque for US$1.26 million and taking over at the top of the FedExCup points standings. "This sure feels great to go head-to-head with him.

 

"The last five or six holes, when Tiger was making a run, it was fun to be able to match it with a couple of birdies and win.

 

"I knew we had Arron Oberholser and Brett Wetterich behind us and I was certainly keeping an eye out for them," added the Californian after regaining second spot in the world rankings.

 

Mickelson, playing with Woods for the sixth time in the final round of a PGA Tour event, appeared to have the title firmly within his grasp after moving four strokes clear with eight holes to play.

 

The three-time major winner reeled off four birdies in a flawless outward nine before rolling in a nine-footer at the par-four 10th to pick up his fifth shot of the day.

 

Renowned for his attacking golf, Mickelson paid the price for an aggressive line to the flag at the par-four 12th where his approach ended in the hazard to the right of the green.

 

Penalty drop

 

After taking a penalty drop, he was unable to get up and down for a five and had to settle for a double-bogey with his lead cut to one.

 

Defending champion Woods, who had been struggling with the pace of his putts, holed a 40-footer at the 14th to move within two shots of Mickelson. He then lipped out with a birdie attempt from 14 feet at the par-four 15th.

 

Both players struck superb tee shots at the par-three 16th, Woods going on to make birdie from 10 feet and Mickelson following suit with a six-footer.

 

Oberholser, playing in the group behind, tapped in a five-footer to birdie the same hole and close within a stroke of the lead.

 

Woods and Mickelson signed off with matching birdies at the par-five last, Woods two-putting from 33 feet and Mickelson getting up and down from thick rough behind the green.

 

"My speed on the greens wasn't very good this week," a disgruntled Woods said. "It was just terrible. I had umpteen million three-putts this week. It was very frustrating."

 

Oberholser had a chance to force a playoff by eagling the 18th but he overshot the green with his second shot before missing a birdie attempt from eight feet.

 

Australian Aaron Baddeley birdied the final hole for a 70 and fifth place at 11 under, finishing one ahead of compatriot Geoff Ogilvy (67) and South African Rory Sabbatini (69).

 

The leading 70 players on the FedExCup points list at the end of the tournament advance to the BMW Championship outside Chicago starting on Thursday.

 

The top 30 in the standings will then qualify for the Sept 13-16 Tour Championship in Atlanta where a US$10 million bonus in deferred compensation will be earned by the overall points champion.

 

(China Daily via Agencies September 5, 2007)