Mickelson wins Shell Houston Open

Phil Mickelson shot a 20-under-par to win the 2011 Shell Houston Open.  Mickelson passes Tiger Woods in the Official World Golf Rankings for the first time since the week before the 1997 Masters.  Mickelson moves to No. 3 in the World behind Martin Kaymer-1 and Lee Westwood-2.  It is his first win since turning 40 in June.

Mickelson earns his 39th win on TOUR which ties him with Tom Watson and Cary Middlecoff for ninth all-time. He was tied with Gene Sarazen. Next on the list is Walter Hagen with 45 wins.  Mickelson has at least one victory each of the last eight seasons on TOUR, which is the longest active streak.

Mickelson had five straight birdies No. 9 – No. 13 in the final round. His career-best birdie streak is seven in the secondround of the 1997 Las Vegas Invitational.

 

Mickelson has now converted 21 of 30 third-round leads/co-leads into victory on TOUR. He failed to convert his other thirdround lead/co-lead earlier this year at the Farmers Insurance Open. Mickelson was tied with Scott Verplank entering today’s final round.

Scott Verplank and Chris Kirk tied for 2nd with 17-under.  Verplank  moves to 14th on the TOUR’s career money list passing Retief Goosen and Stuart Appleby. He played his 585th event this week.  Kirk records his second top 10 of the season. His other top-10 finish came in his second start of the season at the Bob Hope Classic (T7).