‘Lefty’ tops Woods in head-to-head battles

PEBBLE BEACH, California- Agence France-Presse

US golfer Phil Mickelson, nicknamed Lefty, celebrates his par-saving putt on the 15th hole during the last day of Pebble Beach Pro-Am tournament in California. AFP photo

Tiger Woods has put himself among the greatest legends in golf history but he continues to go belly up in recent head-to-head battles with Phil Mickelson.

Mickelson has won their past five meetings when they have gone head-to-head in the final round of an event, including the comeback victory at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Feb. 12, and at the 2009 Masters.
“I am inspired playing with him,” four-time major winner Mickelson said. “I think most people are, but he seems to bring out the best in me and the last four or five years, I’ve played some of my best golf playing with him.” Mickelson and Woods were first paired together in the fourth round of the 1997 PGA Championship, where they both shot 75s. In 30 such career pairings, they are now level at 13-13-4 in who scores better.

“I am more focused,” Mickelson said. “His level of play is so much greater when he’s playing his best than anybody else’s. That just forces me to focus on my game more intently, and hit more precise shots.”