Mickelson edges Watney to win CA Championship

2009-03-15

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DORAL, Florida (Ticker) - Phil Mickelson held off Nick Watney to win the CA Championship on Sunday.

Mickelson finished with a 3-under-par 69 on Sunday to outlast Watney, who had a birdie putt on 18 stop about an inch in front of the cup.

With the win, Mickelson earned $1.4 million and moved back to No. 2 in the world rankings behind Tiger Woods.

“He’s the greatest player of all time. I don’t want to go there with the world ranking,” Mickelson said. “What I’m excited about is I’m playing some of my best golf.”

Mickelson had to be treated at a local hospital Saturday for heat exhaustion and a mild case of dehydration, but he mustered enough strength to win a World Golf Championship event for the first time.

Mickelson finished at 19-under 269 for his 36th victory, putting him in a tie for 12th on the PGA Tour’s career list.

Woods carded a 68 and finished in a tie for ninth in his first stroke-play event since he won the U.S. Open.

Watney nearly forced a playoff, but instead will have to be content with battling Mickelson on fairly even terms in a high-profile event.

“It looked like it was going in,” Mickelson said. “I’ve been there, man. I know that feeling. It’s not a great one.”

“I’ll get over this,” Watney said. “It’s a positive week. I played really well. Beat 78 of the best players in the world. Beat Tiger, which is always good. I’m very pleased with the way I’m playing.”

Woods finished eight shots behind Mickelson in a tie for ninth, but he still has never finished out of the top 10 on the Blue Monster.

“I didn’t get anything out of my rounds,” Woods said. “I hit the ball a lot better than my scoring indicates.”