Mickelson Outplays Woods, Rallies to Win HSBC

Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods were in the final group together, Mickelson leading and Woods two strokes behind at the start of the final round of the HSBC Champions.

And at the end of the final round, Mickelson was still on top, but Woods five strokes back. It was Ernie Els, not Woods, who charged at Mickelson on Sunday, even overtaking Phil before Els (playing several groups ahead) found water on the 18th.

Mickelson, meanwhile, rolled in a long par-save on the 16th and birdied the 17th, shooting 69 to finish at 17-under. Els was one back after his final-round 63, followed by Ryan Moore, Rory McIlroy, Nick Watney, and then Tiger and Martin Kaymer at 12-under.

Although this win doesn't count as an official PGA Tour victory for Mickelson, it is his second WGC win of the year. Which is notable for the fact that Mickelson had never won a WGC tournament prior to the 2009 WGC CA Championship at Doral.

Woods and Mickelson both missed short birdie putts on the second hole. But while Mickelson righted himself, Woods never did. Woods found water on the fourth hole, double-bogied, and was never in the mix after that. It's also the fourth time in their last five rounds together that Mickelson has bettered Woods.

Woods plays again this week at the Australian Masters, and will play at least once more in 2009 after that at his own Chevron World Challenge - but we won't see Mickelson again, the AP reports, until the Century Club of San Diego Invitational at the end of January.