![\"Phil](\"\/b\/imgs\/pga\/phil_mickelson_fbr.jpg\")
Phil Mickelson, who has had (and by most accounts continues to have) gambling problems, would have been able to safely bet on himself today as he walked away with the Phil Mickelson, who has had (and by most accounts continues to have) gambling problems, would have been able to safely bet on himself today as he walked away with the Phoenix<\/strike> FBR Open. His final-round 68 left him five shots clear of second place.<\/p>\n
Youngster Kevin Na, the youngest player on the PGA Tour at 21, shot a 69 to finish in a tie for second with Scott McCarron at -12. David Toms, Steve Flesch, and Tim Herron – none of which could mount a charge at all – finished at -11, six strokes back.
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\nDespite finding the desert on the par-5 13th and the water on the par-5 15th, Mickelson made birdie and par while playing somewhat risky shots that characterize the man known on tour as FIGJAM. One has to wonder whether his success at avoiding trouble while playing dangerous shots will lead to the return of Phil’s dangerous style of play – the same style of play he avoided last year while coming within five shots of winning all four majors and winning his first in Augusta.<\/p>\n
The larger story remains the play of those following Mickelson, none of whom could make a charge. David Toms got to -13 and had a chance to birdie the 18th to put pressure on Mickelson, who at that time was only at -15. Instead, he double bogeyed – something he did more than any other player in the field this week (David Duval did not start).<\/p>\n
The victory was Phil’s 24th on the PGA Tour and his first since winning the 2004 Masters last April. His five-stroke margin of victory is the largest of his career and, with Vijay Singh and Tiger Woods having already won this year, Phil’s victory marks the third time a top-5 ranked player in the world has won a PGA Tour event in this year’s five tournaments.<\/p>\n
Pos Player Final R1 R2 R3 R4 Total\n1 Phil Mickelson -17 73 60 66 68 267\nT2 Scott McCarron -12 72 70 65 65 272\nT2 Kevin Na -12 68 65 70 69 272\nT4 David Toms -11 71 66 68 68 273\nT4 Tim Herron -11 73 66 67 67 273\nT4 Steve Flesch -11 70 67 67 69 273\n7 Kenny Perry -10 70 67 67 70 274\n8 Charles Warren -9 69 68 69 69 275\nT9 Hunter Mahan -8 68 69 72 67 276\nT9 Mark Calcavecchia -8 74 66 65 71 276\nT11 Jesper Parnevik -7 73 70 69 65 277\nT11 John Rollins -7 70 74 66 67 277\nT11 Vijay Singh -7 71 72 66 68 277\nT11 Patrick Sheehan -7 72 66 70 69 277\nT11 Tom Pernice, Jr. -7 72 68 68 69 277\nT11 Joey Snyder III -7 72 68 68 69 277\nT11 Stewart Cink -7 68 70 69 70 277\nT11 K.J. Choi -7 72 66 66 73 277\nT19 Kevin Sutherland -6 72 68 69 69 278\nT19 Franklin Langham -6 70 70 68 70 278\nT19 Duffy Waldorf -6 69 70 69 70 278\nT19 Matt Gogel -6 72 69 67 70 278\nT19 Scott Verplank -6 73 66 68 71 278<\/pre>\n