Mickelson fends off Els to win HSBC Champions

By Sports Network | The Sports Network • Published November 07, 2009

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Phil Mickelson closed with a three-under 69 Sunday to hold off Ernie Els and win the World Golf Championships - HSBC Champions.

Mickelson, who also won this title in 2007, completed the event at 17-under- par 271. It was Mickelson's second WGC victory of the season.

"It was an interesting final round. I had to kind of gut this one out," admitted Mickelson. "The ball wasn't going in the hole. I was hitting good putts and they wouldn't fall. I'd make a couple mistakes ball-striking and yet I fought hard just to stay in it."

Els took the lead with a birdie on the 17th, but found water with his second at the last. That led to a closing bogey, which left Els at 16-under-par 272 after a course-record-tying nine-under 63.

Ryan Moore posted a four-under 68 on Sunday to take third at minus-15.

Tiger Woods struggled throughout the round. He was four-over through eight holes, but fought back with five birdies over a seven-hole stretch from the ninth.

The rally got Woods within three strokes of the lead, but he ran out of holes. After a pair of pars, he closed with a bogey to post even-par 72. He ended in a tie for sixth at 12-under-par 276.

There were plenty of twists and turns throughout the final round at Sheshan International Golf Club.

Starting out, Mickelson pushed his lead to three with a birdie on the third. However, he bogeyed the next two holes as his lead dipped to one.

Moore caught him in the lead with a birdie on the seventh, but Mickelson responded with a birdie on the same hole. Mickelson parred five in a row from the eighth and that started a back-and-forth with Els and Moore.

At the 11th, Moore sank a seven-footer for birdie to join Mickelson at 14- under. Moore gave that stroke back on 13 and never shared the lead again, but was never more than two back the rest of the way.

Els poured in a long birdie effort on the 11th to tie Mickelson at minus-14. After a pair of pars, Els briefly grabbed his first solo lead with a four- footer for birdie on 14.

Mickelson responded in fine fashion. He birdied the 13th from just over 15 feet, then two-putted for birdie from a similar length on 14th to get to 16- under.

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