Mickelson avoids meltdown, gains one-shot victory

LOS ANGELES – On the verge of blowing the biggest lead of his career, Phil Mickelson turned his fortunes around in the final hour at Riviera with back-to-back birdies that carried him to a one-shot victory Sunday in the Northern Trust Open.

Mickelson went from a four-shot lead at the start of the final round to a two-shot deficit with three holes to play. But he hit 9-iron to five feet for birdie on the 16th, holed a six-foot birdie on the 17th and saved par with a six-foot putt on the final hole.

He closed with a 1-over 72 to become only the fourth player to win back-to-back years at Riviera.

“I’m pleased to be sitting here as the champion,” Mickelson said. “And it was not easy. I had a five-shot lead and I let it slide. The good thing was that I was able to fight hard. Even though I didn’t have my best stuff, I was able to fight through it.”

Steve Stricker closed with a 67 and was on his way to the range to get ready for a playoff when he saw Mickelson leave himself a tough par putt on the final hole, and stopped when he heard the cheer.

“It’s just a little disappointing when you don’t finish it off, or have the opportunity to finish it off,” he said. “And I didn’t.”

Stricker missed a 12-foot birdie putt on the par-5 17th that would have given him a three-shot lead at the time, then missed a 12-footer for par on the 18th.

But the real heartache belonged to Fred Couples.

A two-time winner at Riviera, his favorite golf course west of Augusta National, the 49-year-old had a chance for one last victory in his final full season on the PGA Tour. Couples was one shot behind when he fanned his approach to the 18th green and watched in disgust as it struck a eucalyptus tree. He finished with a bogey for a 69 to tie for third with South Korea’s K.J. Choi (69) and Argentina’s Andres Romero (70).                  (AP)