Mickelson fends off Els for second HSBC Champions title

By Nick Mulvenney

SHANGHAI tournament.

The American shot a three-under-par 69 on a dramatic day of golf to finish on 17-under for the tournament and pick up his second World Golf Championship title and a cheque for $1.2 million.

The final round had been billed as a shootout between the top two in the world but after number one Woods faltered on the front nine, it was Els who threatened to stop Mickelson reclaiming the title he won in 2007.

South African Els was one of three players to beat the old course record with a round of 63 on Sunday but he found the water at the 18th and had to settle for second place on 16-under.

American Ryan Moore carded a 68 for third a further shot back, while Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy was another who shot a 63 to take fourth on 14-under, one better than American Nick Watney in fifth.

Woods, who finished with a par 72 for a share of sixth, had a front nine to forget, finding a canal for a double bogey at the third then falling apart completely after he drove into a bunker off the seventh tee.

Clearly upset, his first sand wedge moved him just five feet onto a grassy ridge and his subsequent chip went almost straight up in the air before landing in a greenside bunker.

The 14-times major champion did well to make bogey but Mickelson, who had lipped out a two-foot putt to also bogey the third, grabbed a second birdie of the day and moved into a six-shot lead over the world number one.

BIRDIE BLITZ

Els, who started the day seven off the pace, had quietly moved up the leaderboard with four birdies in his first six holes before making a 20-foot eagle putt from the fringe of the green at the par-5 seventh to move within a shot of Mickelson.

The three-times major champion picked up another shot with a six-foot putt at the 11th to snatch a share of the lead while Mickelson continued to make pars behind him.

Looking relaxed, the "Big Easy" seized the outright lead, making another birdie at the 14th before Mickelson pegged him back with a six-foot putt at the 13th.

Els got his nose back in front when a fine drive at the 17th left him with an easy two-footer.

Mickelson looked in trouble when his ball went into deep rough at the 16th and his first attempt to get onto the green failed to move it.

But he sent a 15-foot par putt rattling into the hole and as he was punching the air in delight at the save, Els's approach shot at the 18th plunged into the middle of the lake.

Mickelson flirted with danger by twice landing in deep rough at the 18th but his final approach left him with a simple par putt of less than two feet for the championship.