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By John Reger
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer
LA JOLLA, California (Ticker) - While his nemesis was taking a victory
lap on what is considered his home course on the PGA Tour, Phil
Mickelson was four groups ahead, trying not to shoot his second
over-par round of the tournament.
Mickelson managed to make a four-foot birdie on the final hole to shoot
his third under par round of the Buick Invitational. As he walked off
the 18th green to sign for his 71 which completed a tie for sixth at
6-under 282, Mickelson looked a bit relieved that a long week was
finally over.
The extremely partisan crowd stood and applauded as he headed to the
scoring trailer he acknowledged the crowd with a thumbs up and a smile.
But while Tiger Woods was en route to his victory at his season debut,
Mickelson was left to wonder what happened in his first event of the
season.
"It was nice to have a good weekend," said Mickelson who shot rounds of
70, 73, 68 and 71. "I got some rounds under-par and my game is not too
far off from where it needs to be."
While Woods has dominated this event, Mickelson's record has been speckled with both success and disappointment.
Since Torrey Pines South Course was redesigned by Rees Jones in time
for the 2002 event, Woods has won five of seven times, including this
year and finished tied for 10th and tied for fifth in the other two
starts.
Mickelson, though has been all over the scoreboard. He missed the cut
in 2002, finished tied for fourth twice, tied for eighth, tied 56th and
tied for 51st.
"I don't recall my most recent finishes here," Mickelson said. "I know
it hasn't been the best the last couple of years, but I am starting to
play the golf course a lot better."
Of 10 weekend rounds, four of 10 have been over-par, including a 78 and four have been in the 60s.
In the same time span Woods has had 12 rounds and all but three have
been in the 60s. Those remaining three were all rounds of even-par 72.
"Even though the golf course has been redesigned, I still feel
comfortable even after the redesign," Woods said. "Sometimes you don't."
This year Mickelson had a tangible excuse. He was suffering from
bronchitis and wasn't even sure he was going to be in the event. Up
until Tuesday he was in bed on antibiotics.
The problem had plagued Mickelson for the last three months and he was
pleased with his play considering how poorly he felt earlier in the
week.
"I thought as the week wore on I played better and I was able to move
up," Mickelson said. "My game today is about where I want it at the
beginning of the tournament. I'm just a week behind schedule. I think
being able to play these last two rounds under-par gives me a little
momentum heading into next week. My game is starting to feel a lot
better and I should have a good week."
Last year Mickelson started slow as well, finishing tied for 45th at
the Bob Hope, tied for 51st at the Buick and missing the cut at the FBR
Open. He then won at the AT&T at Pebble Beach and finished second
in a playoff to Charlie Howell at the Nissan Open.
"I wasn't quite ready last year," Mickelson said. "I was putting in the
time but wasn't getting the results. Whereas here, as the week wore on,
I started driving the ball better and hit a lot more solid shots early
than I did last year."
There are a couple of things Mickelson worked on in the off season that
he is already starting to see rewarded on the golf course.
"I believe that heading into the 2008 season I am much better equipped
to drive the ball well," Mickelson said. "I'm much better physically
equipped to accommodate the changes that Butch Harmon and I are
implementing."
Mickelson will play the next four consecutive tour events and that will be a better gauge.
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