4. PHIL BUSTS WINLESS STREAK WITH MEXICO VICTORY

Date: Mar. 4, 2018
Event: WGC-Mexico Championship
Where: Club de Golf Chapultepec (Mexico City, MX)

Winner: Phil Mickelson -16 (playoff) | Runner-up: Justin Thomas -16

Recap: Despite the long winless drought, Mickelson getting into contention was not terrible surprising, given that he had posted finishes of T5, T2, T6 in his last three starts respectively.

Playing in the final group with Hatton and 21-year-old Indian star Shubhankar Sharma, Phil got off to a hot start with birdies on four of his first six holes, allowing him to get to 3-under at the turn.

He was still at 3-under par for the day and 14 under for the tournament when Thomas, playing several groups ahead, holed out on 18 to take a two-stroke lead.

Mickelson then birdied the par-5 15th, and followed with a long, clutch birdie putt on 16 to nab the co-lead with two holes to play. He parred both 17 and 18, the latter with a testy 3.5 foot putt, to make his first playoff on Tour in six years.

On the first sudden-death hole, the par-3 17th, Mickelson’s lengthy birdie attempt just barely skidded past the cup, leading to a tap-in par. Thomas, who was trying to win for the second-consecutive week, flew his tee shot over the green, and a missed par putt from eight feet, giving the victory to Phil – his first win in a playoff since 2005.

WATCH PHIL AND JT BATTLE IT OUT

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