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Those cruel golf gods Unfortunately for Mickelson, this is a familiar situation
Phil Mickelson had been in this situation three times before. Three times he'd been second going into the final round of a major. Three times he'd failed to leap to victory. Six times he'd gone into the final round of a major within two strokes of the lead. Six times he'd come up short. So why would it be any different this time around? Mickelson was tucked in just behind the leader going into the Masters in 1998, in the U.S. Open in 1999 and the Masters this year. On each occasion, he failed to crack 70 in the final round and finished tied for 12th, runner-up and third respectively. In the last two events, he had his chances and failed to take them. He made his careless mistakes and paid for them. Thus was born Mickelson's reputation for failing to slam the door shut on his rivals on the home stretch on the grandest of golfing stages. This week, the mindset changed. Mickelson talked of establishing a big lead to take into the final round. Instead of doing the chasing, he would be the chased. On Saturday, in spite of a double bogey on the third hole, the plan appeared to be working as he peppered the pins time and again and moved into a two-stroke lead. But he hadn't bargained for an undeniably charmed and occasionally inspired David Toms tearing the third round blueprint to shreds with his sensational hole-in-one on the 15th and unlikely final hole birdie from the fringe. Toms was two in front. Mickelson was second again, doing the chasing again. This time, though, Mickelson felt Sunday would be different. He'd felt all week that his time was now. The "best player never to win a major" tag was about to be discarded, just like David Duval threw the label away at the British Open last month. In every word and deed, Mickelson oozed major-winning confidence. He liked the fact he could use his aggressive style on this Highlands course. He liked the fact he could draw on memories of career-enhancing tournament wins in the Atlanta area. He liked the fact it was all clicking with three straight 66's. Then came Sunday. Then came the moment of truth, the round of truth. Perhaps the defining round of his career to date. No Duval and Mark O'Meara to fend off on the final day, as was the case at Augusta in '98. No doggedly determined Payne Stewart to battle, as was the case at Pinehurst. No Tiger Woods and Duval to overcome, as was the case at this year's Masters. Just Toms ahead of him. Duval and Davis Love III far enough behind to make this the most golden opportunity of Mickelson's major career. Toms had been some kind of demonic metronome, putting better than anyone else in the first three rounds. He had luck on his side at times, but also great amounts of character and skill. Plus, he shot a final round 64 at a tournament in New Orleans this year to beat Mickelson to the title -- all good karma. But Toms didn't offer Mickelson the same kind of intimidation factor a Woods or a Duval might. Mickelson, a winner of 20 tournaments worldwide including 19 on the PGA Tour, knew he had to pounce here at the Atlanta Athletic Club on Sunday to prove he can close the deal at a big one -- or feed into the theory he's a back side blunderer in slams. He appeared to pounce on the 15th hole on Sunday. A two-shot swing in Toms' favor on the ninth hole, was reversed on 15 as the man from Shreveport bogeyed and Mickelson birdied. All square. On the very next hole, however, Mickelson rattled a 50-footer past the hole and missed his par putt. Advantage Toms. It stayed that way until the 18th when Toms laid up on the mammoth par-4. Mickelson had a birdie chance, but left it short. Toms got up and down for the one-stroke win. More despair for the world number two. A first major and a Ryder Cup berth to boot for Toms. So the drought continues. The unwanted "best not to win major" tag remains for Mickelson. He undoubtedly had his chances and share of breaks, but the conservative Toms never allowed him to get as much as a nose in front on Sunday. For Mickelson, the frustration is enormous. He said he wants to "win a bunch of majors but I can't make the breakthrough, can't get the first." Can't doesn't translate to won't. At 31 and immensely talented, he will surely win a major one day. It's just that after a week like this week, he must be wondering quite how and when.
Phil Jones is co-host of World Sport, the international sports show that airs live on CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNN International.
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