World News – CA – Phil Mickelson wins in Richmond to go 2 for 2 on senior tour – TSNCalifornia

18 min ago

Phil Mickelson
, The Canadian Press

RICHMOND, Va – Phil Mickelson became the third player and second this year to win his first two starts on the PGA Tour champions, slamming the door on Canadian Mike Weir with a nine-back push on Sunday at the Dominion Energy Charity Classic

Mickelson finished with a 7-under 65 to finish at 17-under 199, three strokes better than second-round leader Weir, the 50-year-old southpaw who had a 71 Mickelson was a tournament record shot set last year by Miguel Angel Jimenez

Weir, from Brights Grove, Ont, is also in its first year of eligibility for the Champions Tour

Winner in late August at Ozarks National, Missouri on his first start on the 50-plus tour, Mickelson joined Bruce Fleischer and Jim Furyk as the only players to win in their first two senior events Fleischer has accomplished feat in 1999 and Furyk did it this year with victories at The Ally Challenge and Pure Insurance Championship

Mickelson described his decision to play in Virginia as the start of his Masters preparations with an emphasis on precise driving and competitive form, and it worked

Mickelson, who took the lead when Weir landed three putts on the par-3 14th green, doubled his advantage with a birdie on the next hole, then highlighted his distance advantage over the 2003 Masters champion in leading the green to 274- yard, par 4 15th He made two 30-foot putts to double his lead, then reached the 16th par 5 in two and birdied Weir also kept the birdie out less than two hits, but ran out of holes

Mickelson’s chance to work on his competitive side came straight away.He erased a three-stroke deficit with birdies on three of the first six holes while Weir made a series of pars, but it was on. the last nine that he was really tested and delighted with his response

After a shot back at the 12th hole he shot even at No 13 and kept pushing

Mickelson, who has not won the PGA Tour since early 2019 at Pebble Beach, plans to return to the PGA Tour next week for the Zozo Championship in California After a week off he will play at the Open in Houston as final preparation for the Masters in November 12-15

Weir put in three putts in the 18th par 5, but still hung on to beat Paul Goydos (65) with a shot Bernhard Langer (67) and Brandt Jobe (68) split fifth, five behind Mickelson

Robert Karlsson, another rookie on the circuit, finished with a 64 including an albatross 2 on the last hole The ball bounced twice, then found the bottom of the cup

Phil Mickelson, PGA Tour Champions, Mike Weir, Dominion Energy Charity Classic