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The Times & The Sunday Times
The Times & The Sunday Times
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Phil Mickelson hits form at right time to move above Tiger Woods

Scott Rutherford
The Times
Mickelson produced a final round of 65, seven under par, that included a sequence of five birdies from the 9th
Mickelson produced a final round of 65, seven under par, that included a sequence of five birdies from the 9th
DAVE EINSEL/AP
Scott Rutherford
The Times

Phil Mickelson, the Masters champion, will head back to Augusta as the man to beat after sealing a superb victory in the Shell Houston Open last night.

Mickelson finished in style with a 65, which included a sequence of five birdies from the 9th, to move three clear of Chris Kirk and Scott Verplank, his fellow Americans. Kirk recorded a 67 to earn his first top-two finish on the PGA Tour and Verplank closed with a 68.

Victory for Mickelson ahead of the coming week’s first major of the year means he overtakes Tiger Woods in the world rankings for the first time since the 1997 Masters. He registered 268 for the tournament, 20 under par, after pulling clear of the field with a string of birdies as he completed the back nine in 31.

“I’m very pleased to have played well,” he said. “I’m just trying to get my game ready and it’s not just the physical ball-striking and short game and putting and so forth. I’ve got to maintain my focus throughout the round. There were two points out there today where I just lost focus.

“Next week at Augusta, that golf course can be very penalising.”

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Mickelson did stumble early on in his final round, with a pair of dropped shots at the 2nd and 3rd holes, both par fours.

Those allowed Verplank, his playing partner, to head the leaderboard, but Mickelson soon passed him.

Steve Stricker and Aaron Baddeley tied for fourth place on 13 under, Stricker after a 69 and Baddeley with a closing 71, while Robert Allenby and David Hearn were a shot farther back. Padraig Harrington completed a solid week with a 70 for joint eighth place on 11 under.

Further down the field, Lee Westwood had an eagle three at the 8th but finished with a dropped shot for a 68. The Englishman needed a top-two finish to go back to No 1 in the world, but ended up tied for 30th.

Westwood’s compatriots, Brian Davis and Ross Fisher, were handily placed heading into the final round, but rounds of 75 and 76 respectively dashed their hopes of finishing in the top ten. Davis ended up joint 48th, with Fisher in a group tied for 51st that included Ernie Els.