Phil Mickelson delivered another dramatic finish in a major on Monday, flopping a chip out of deep rough to 2 feet (0.61m) for a birdie on the final hole and a one-shot victory in the US PGA Championship.
The putt wasn't nearly as long as his 18-footer to win the Masters last year, and there was no need to jump for joy this time.
Still, it was a sweet conclusion to a major championship season that had gone sour until he put together his best golf of the summer stretched over five days at Baltusrol by a storm-delayed final round.
It was the first Monday finish at the PGA Championship in 19 years. And not since 1986 at Inverness had a player from the last group won with a birdie on the 72nd hole at the final major.
Bob Tway got his by holing a bunker shot to deny Greg Norman. Mickelson's chip from about 50 feet wasn't nearly dramatic, but it was no less effective.
Steve Elkington, then Thomas Bjorn, came to the 507m closing hole with a chance to make birdie. Elkington grazed the left edge of the cup from 10 feet. Bjorn pulled his second shot into the left bunker and blasted to 20 feet, his putt looking good all the way until it caught the inside edge of the cup and spun out.
Mickelson was 226m away, but the shot came up short in grass that covered the tops of his shoes. The flop came out perfect, and Mickelson raised his arms and lightly pumped his fist twice. The final putt was merely a tap-in, giving Lefty another year with a major trophy.
Mickelson closed with a 2-over 72, playing the final four holes on Monday morning at even par.
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