HSBC World Golf Championship: Mickelson’s whiff and win and the week in review in photos

November 8, 11:13 PMBoston Golf ExaminerEmily Kay

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Phil Mickelson holds WGC-HSBC Champions trophy

(Photo: AP/Andy Wong)

November 9 -- Phil Mickelson whiffed on a flop shot and still managed to eke out a one-stroke win at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions event in China.

• Catch the action from a lively week of golf at the WGC-HSBC Champions even in China

Mickelson, a short-game magician, actually missed his trademarked flop shot on the 16th hole of Sunday’s final round, still made par, and held off a hard-charging runner-up. Only the late run was from South African Ernie Els and not Tiger Woods, who did not hold up his end of an anticipated renewed Mickelson-Woods rivalry.

While Mickelson showed some nerves on the 16th, he showed off his confident new putting stroke with a 10-foot birdie putt on the 17th, and carded a 3-under 69 to finish at 17-under 271 for the tournament.

Els, on the other hand, lost his one-shot lead and the tourney when he rinsed his ball on the 18th. From mid-fairway on the 538-yard 18th, he told reporters he “basically duffed” a 5-wood into the middle of the pond.

Instead of the win, Els consoled himself with sharing the Sheshan International Golf Club course record 9-under 63 with Rory McIlroy, who finished fourth.

What’s up with Woods? As for Woods, the final round was the cherry on what seemed to be a rather unpleasant, week-long sundae. Shutterbugs appeared to annoy him more than usual, and he looked to be just out of sorts. 

Six behind on Sunday’s front nine, Woods scrambled to stay in contention. But when he put his third shot on the 18th into the water and closed with a bogey and a 72, he had to settled for a share of sixth place.

Certainly not the head-to-head matchup with Mickelson, number two in the world, for which golf fans had hoped.

Perhaps there’s something more than poor putting and a conservative game plan scuttling Tiger's game. He alluded earlier this week to having a mysterious ailment since last month’s Presidents Cup.

Reporters even asked Mickelson later if Woods might have “any problem.” Mickelson had no answer to that one.

Advantage, Mickelson. With his victory Sunday, Mickelson defeated Woods for the fourth time in the last five times they have played together. It is also the first time Mickelson has beaten Woods when they have been in a tournament’s final group.

“It always feels good to win any tournament, but certainly when you have a chance to go head to head,” Mickelson told reporters later, “although, I know [Woods] didn't play his best today.”

Mickelson was also the only player this week to shoot four rounds in the 60s (66-66-67-69).

Looks like Anthony Kim could use a well-deserved rest. Read about Kim’s decision to go home instead of “race” to Dubai.