Mickelson Outlasts Four in a Bellsouth Playoff

The rain-shortened BellSouth Classic was only supposed to go 54 holes, but it took 58 for Phil Mickelson to come out on top. Phil birdied the fourth playoff hole to take victory away from the resurgent Rich Beem and José Maria Olazabal as well as Arjun Atwal and Brandt Jobe.

Scott McCarron, who held the second-round lead at -6, fell apart with a final-round 76. Arjun Atwal, who began the day at even par, took all of McCarron’s shots (and then some) on his way to a tournament-low 64. Finishing early, Atwal had to wait two hours to see if his final score of 8-under par would hold up. It did, but his bogey on the first playoff hole in the five-man sudden-death playoff – did not.

Mickelson’s final-round 65 included a disappointing outgoing 37. He came back in 32 to squeeze into the playoff. Rich Beem fired a 68, and José Maria Olazabal fired his second consecutive 69. Had Olazabal not three-putted the 18th in regulation – including a missed birdie putt from four feet – there would have been no playoff. Olazabal lipped out a four-footer in the playoff that would have won him the tournament as well. He eventually bowed out after pushing his drive way right on the 18th, laying up, hitting his third shot into the water, and then hitting his pitch for par into the water as well. Olazabal was playing on a sponsor’s exemption this week.

Rich Beem, who placed 183rd last year on the money list and won the 2002 PGA Championship, took Phil Mickelson the furthest. After starting the round two back at -4, Beem played the front in even par and played bogey-free golf coming home, birdieing three of the last four holes. On the first playoff hole, the par-5 18th, Beem, Mickelson, and Olazabal all missed putts inside of 15 feet for birdie. Atwal and Jobe bogeyed.

Beem, Olazabal, and Mickelson moved to the par-4 17th, measuring 455 yards. Olazabal found the fairway bunker and pushed his approach wide right, while Beem and Mickelson had makeable birdie putts, again inside 15 feet. Both missed and Olazabal deftly chipped and got down with a par. The par-5 18th, the third playoff hole, undid Olazabal, but Mickelson and Beem both birdied after reaching the green in two. Mickelson, who removed a sand wedge from his bag and put in a three-iron after 54 holes, hit that 3-iron into the green. Said Olazabal of his missed putts, “I had a chance to win it (in regulation) and didn’t. Had a second chance and missed it.”

Beem and Mickelson moved to the par-4 17th once again, where it was Beem’s turn to find the fairway bunker. Phil’s drive, as were all his others in the playoff, split the fairway. From 217, Beem found a spot similar to the one Olazabal found, and Mickelson put his shot to 18 feet. Beem chipped well, assuring a par. Mickelson, finally, holed the putt for the win.

Mickelson said “There were probably six to 10 people who could have won this tournament. I don’t know how I dodged the bullet. My swing started to feel good on the back. Somehow I hung in there and got lucky.” He later added “I’m looking forward to the Masters.” This win marks Phil’s third this year and the 26th PGA Tour win of his career.

Pos   Player                Today   Tot    R1    R2    R3    Tot
1     Phil Mickelson          -3    -8     74    65    69    208
T2*** Rich Beem               -4    -8     70    70    68    208
T2**  Jose Maria Olazabal     -3    -8     70    69    69    208
T2*   Arjun Atwal             -8    -8     77    67    64    208
T2*   Brandt Jobe             -5    -8     72    69    67    208
T6    Frank Lickliter II      -4    -7     71    70    68    209
T6    Scott Dunlap            -3    -7     72    68    69    209
T6    Arron Oberholser        -3    -7     72    68    69    209
T6    Tag Ridings             -3    -7     72    68    69    209
T10   Charles Warren          -6    -6     75    69    66    210
T10   Dennis Paulson          -5    -6     75    68    67    210
T10   Hunter Haas             -5    -6     75    68    67    210
T10   Jay Williamson          -5    -6     72    71    67    210
T10   Lucas Glover            -3    -6     74    67    69    210

*** Lost on fourth playoff hole (par)
**  Lost on third playoff hole (X)
*   Lost on first playoff hole (bogey)

Playoff Scoring

Player           18   17   18   17
Mickelson         5    4    4    3
Beem              5    4    4    4
Olazabal          5    4    X
Atwal             6
Jobe              6

What will Phil do next? Drive two hours to Augusta National Golf Club to defend his first – and only – major. Beem and Olazabal may carpool.

Photo Credit: © The Golf Channel.