Golf

Phil Mickelson held off a resurgent Ernie Els in a tense 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 number two showed nerves of steel to claim the 1.2-million-dollar winner's cheque by a stroke from the South African after hitting 69 for a 17-under-par total of 271. 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. American Nick Watney was fifth ... Read Full Story

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - World number two Phil Mickelson held off a charging Ernie Els to win the WGC-HSBC Champions by one shot on Sunday, his second success in three years at the $7 million tournament. The American shot a three-under-par 69 on a dramatic day of golf to finish on 17-under for the tournament and pick up his second World Golf Championship (WGC) title and a cheque for $1.2 million. The final round had been billed as a shootout between the top two in the world but after number one Woods faltered on the front nine, it was Els who threatened to stop Mickelson ... Read Full Story

Updated: November 08, 2009, 13:14 SHANGHAI(AP) Thousands of fans caused a bottleneck at the entrance to the HSBC Champions, all of them eager to see the Sunday showdown at Sheshan International between Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods. The Shanghai surprise? Woods turned out to be merely a spectator, too. Mickelson built a six-shot lead over the world's No. 1 player on the front nine, then rallied to beat another familiar foe, Ernie Els, with two clutch putts for a one-shot victory in the final World Golf Championship of the year. Mickelson closed with a 3-under 69 and won for the first time playing with ... Read Full Story

Phil Mickelson birdied the last hole on Saturday to take a two-stroke lead over Tiger Woods and Nick Watney at the HSBC Champions, setting up an enticing finale in the World Golf Championship event. The world number two stroked a 67 to be 14 under for the tournament on 202, with Woods and Watney, the joint second-round leaders, breathing down his neck after firing 70s. Fellow American Ryan Moore is fourth, three off the lead, while England's Lee Westwood is a shot further back after a best-of-the-day 65. The Ryder Cup ace leads the Race to Dubai -- the European money list -- with ... Read Full Story

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Phil Mickelson shot a third-round five-under-par 67 to take a two-shot lead at the $7 million WGC-HSBC Champions on Saturday, setting up a rare head-to-head battle with Tiger Woods on the final day. World number two Mickelson finished the day at 14-under for the tournament, while Woods and Nick Watney, who shared the lead overnight, both shot 70s to ensure an all-American leading group on Sunday. Despite being the best two players in the world in recent years, Woods and Mickelson have not often been put together in the leading group final round with a title up for grabs. Mickelson, who ... Read Full Story