Phil Mickelson
2009 Season Highlights
Won four times, including a comeback win at THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola, and increased official career win total to 37 (12th on the PGA TOUR career wins list). Took time off during the season after breast cancer diagnosis for his wife and mother…Defending his 2008 victory at the Northern Trust Open, posted an 8-under 63 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round. Topped that with a 9-under 62 on Saturday on his way to a four-stroke cushion entering the final 18 holes. After opening with an eagle on the first hole on Sunday, reeled off five bogeys in his next 15 holes to lose the lead. Birdies on the 16th and 17th holes regained the lead and he two-putted from the fringe on the finishing hole to beat Steve Stricker by one. The win was the 35th of his career. Became the first player since Ben Hogan (1946-48) to follow up a runner-up finish (2007) with consecutive victories at the Northern Trust Open (2008-09). He became the seventh player to win in back-to-back seasons at the event, and in the process successfully defended a title for the fifth time in his career…Finished T9 when he lost, 1-down, to Stewart Cink in the third round of the Accenture Match Play Championship…Weakened and dehydrated by a stomach virus that sent him to the hospital on the eve of the final round, closed with seven straight pars for a 3-under 69 to win the World Golf Championships-CA Championship by one stroke over Nick Watney, whose 30-foot birdie try on the final green barely missed. His second victory in his last three starts moved him to No. 2 in the FedExCup standings and to No. 2 in the world. The victory was also the 36th of his career, tied with Lloyd Mangrum for 12th all time…Tied the tournament record with a 30 on the front nine in the final round to jump into contention at the Masters Tournament. However, was derailed by a double bogey on the par-3 12th and a bogey on the 18th to finish fifth after a final-round 67…Wife Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer on May 20 and he put his schedule on hold…Returned to action at the St. Jude Classic presented by FedEx in early June, where he finished T59. Also played in the following week’s U.S. Open at Bethpage Black, where he T2, two strokes behind Lucas Glover. Was tied for the lead at 4-under par after an eagle on No. 13 in the final round, but bogeys on 15 and 17 pushed him back to second. Fifth runner-up finish at the U.S. Open was a record…
Missed next six weeks to be with wife and mother, who also had breast cancer surgery. Missed the British Open, the first time he didn’t play in a major championship since 1994. Returned to action in early August at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational where he T58, the first of a five-tournament stretch where he failed to record a top-25 finish…Capped a tumultuous summer at home with a spectacular rally at East Lake, closing with 66-65. The 5-under 65 moved him from four strokes behind to a three-shot victory at THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola, his first since his wife and mother were diagnosed with breast cancer in the spring. Beat Tiger Woods, the FedExCup champion, who finished second alone. Finished at 9-under 271 and placed second in the FedExCup. It was his third victory of the year, the 37th of his career, and it pushed him back to No. 2 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Credited much of his success putting to two days of instruction with Dave Stockton in San Diego the week before THE TOUR Championship. Led the field in Putting and made nine putts of 15 feet or more. Won despite making a quadruple-bogey 8 on the 13th hole in the first round…Only American player to participate in every Presidents Cup (8 events)…Won the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in China in early November. Made an 18-footer to save par on the 16th after whiffing on a flop shot, then holed a 10-foot birdie putt on the 17th to close with a 3-under 69 and overcome a late charge by Ernie Els, who was in the lead until hitting into the water and making bogey on the final hole. Finished at 17-under 271 and earned $1.2 million in winning his second World Golf Championship of the year. The win was his fourth of the year, tying a career best, even though the HSBC was an unofficial PGA TOUR victory. Els was 10-under for his round and had a one-shot lead playing the 538-yard 18th. From the middle of the fairway, he went at the green with a fairway metal and landed in the middle of the lake to give Mickelson an opening.
