2010 shapes up to be colossal clash of titans

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This article was published 10/11/2009 (6158 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SHANGHAI, China — No one can use a long winter’s break quite like Phil Mickelson. No one should be more excited to get back.

The last three tournaments that featured Mickelson and Tiger Woods were enough to get anyone excited about 2010, which very well could turn into a colossal battle between the world’s best two players, one that has been long overdue.

They shared the stage at the Tour Championship, where Mickelson won the tournament and Woods captured the FedEx Cup. They shared a trophy at the Presidents Cup as the best two American players. Both were unbeaten, and while Woods had the perfect record, Mickelson might have been more impressive for winning with three struggling partners.

With only one trophy available Sunday in Shanghai, Mickelson stole the show. Even though his clutch putting over the final three holes gave him a one-shot victory over Ernie Els, what caused such a frenzy at Sheshan International was Mickelson playing in the final group with Woods.

Mickelson had never won a tournament when playing in the last group with Woods.

This time, it was Woods who flinched.

“Anything that could go wrong went wrong for me today,” he said.

Woods three-putted twice, hit two balls in the water, and closed with a 72 to finish five shots behind Lefty, who posted a 69 and matched his career-high of four victories in a year.

Woods headed south for the Australian Masters and a US$3 million appearance fee. Mickelson headed for home in San Diego, where he will have 11 weeks off before returning to the San Diego Invitational at Torrey Pines.

Most years, Mickelson stashes the clubs away until the calendar turns. This won’t be one of them. He said he would continue to work on his swing with Butch Harmon and his putting with Dave Stockton.

“I’m excited about 2010 because I’m starting to play the best golf of my career,” said Mickelson, who turns 40 in June. “Everything is starting to come together as far as my driving. Since working with Butch Harmon, my ball-striking has been much better. My short game is better than it’s ever been. Going into 2010, not only am I excited about it, but I have very high expectations.”

This is one year Mickelson is not likely to ever forget.

His life went into a tailspin in May when his wife, Amy, was diagnosed with breast cancer. No sooner had she gone through surgery to determine the scope of the disease, his mother was diagnosed, too.

Mickelson skipped the British Open, and when he returned in August after his wife and mother received favourable outlooks, he did not crack the top 25 until he won the Tour Championship.

The turnaround began when Mickelson asked longtime caddie Jim Mackay for suggestions. Mackay fired off a series of text messages in a desperate search for the phone number of Stockton, considered one of the best teachers with the putter. They hooked up in San Diego that weekend, and Mickelson believes he found the missing link to his game.

Off the course is looking up, too.

Mickelson said his wife is doing well enough that she might come to more tournaments next year. He called her from the scoring trailer Sunday at the HSBC Champions and was surprised to hear how she coped watching the tournament on television.

“She said she was so nervous that she was cleaning out cupboards and stuff, which caught me off guard,” Mickelson said with a grin. “It’s been a fun way for us to end the year, and she’s doing much better.”

— The Associated Press