Phil hangs on to rule rich HSBC golf

SHANGHAI – Phil Mickelson staged a late rally to win the HSBC Champions by one stroke over South Africa’s Ernie Els on Sunday.

Mickelson made an 18-footer to save par on the 16th after whiffing on a shot, then holed a 10-foot birdie on the 17th to close with a 3-under 69 and overcome a late charge by Els, who held the lead until hitting into the water and making bogey on the final hole.

Tiger Woods was never a factor in the final World Golf Championship of the year, falling six shots behind on the front nine and doing well to stay on the leaderboard the rest of the way. He hit into the water with his third shot on the par-5 18th and had to scramble for bogey to close with a 72 and finish in a tie for fifth, five shots behind.

It was the third time in his last four attempts that Woods played in the final group without winning.

Mickelson finished at 17-under 271 and earned $1.2 million in winning his second WGC event of the year. It was the first time the American won a tournament while playing in the final group with Woods.

Els, devastated when Mickelson beat him with a birdie on the final hole of the 2004 Masters, was 10 under for his round and had a one-shot lead playing the 538-yard 18th hole. From the middle of the fairway, he went at the green with a fairway metal and landed in the middle of the lake.

Els had 218 yards to the front of the green on a downslope in the fairway, not enough for him to hit 4-iron, while a 3-iron might go over the green and down the bank into the water. (AP)