Mickelson wins Shanghai event

He survived six penalty strokes and blowing a three-shot lead.

SHANGHAI, China (AP) — Phil Mickelson glanced at the gleaming trophy on his left, rolled his eyes and broke into a sheepish grin.

“I cannot believe I’m here as the champion right now,” he said.

Here’s why.

Lefty overcame six penalty strokes in the final round, blew a three-shot lead with seven to play, and still won Sunday’s HSBC Champions tournament on the second hole of a three-way playoff with Englishmen Ross Fisher and Lee Westwood.

The victory in Asia’s richest tournament earned Mickelson $833,000. It was his fourth victory this season, and it also gave him a tournament title that Tiger Woods has failed twice to win.

Fisher, ranked No. 141, had a one-stroke lead going to the 72nd hole. It seemed Mickelson would need several clutch shots to at least force a playoff. Instead, he dumped his long approach into water off the right edge of the green.

“I never thought after hitting in the water I had a chance,” said Mickelson, whose win in China was only his second outside the United States, and first since he won in France 14 years ago.

The only player who made more blunders than Mickelson was Fisher, particularly at the final hole of regulation.

“I can’t remember a final hole like this,” said Mickelson, who made a 4-foot birdie putt at the second playoff hole to eliminate both Englishmen.

Fisher had already played four shots when Mickelson holed out. Westwood dumped two in the water and was out of it when Mickelson dropped the winning putt.

“It was the most unusual back nine I’ve even been a part of,” Mickelson added.

The scene for the confused, whirlwind finish began shaping up with Mickelson leading Fisher by three shots after 11. He dropped four shots on 12, 13 and 15. On 15, his bogey and Fisher’s 3-foot birdie gave the Englishman a two-stroke lead with three holes to play.

“I had a huge lead early in the round, but hit some horrible shots,” Mickelson said. “It was a difficult day. But I kept fighting and it’s a funny game, golf. You just never know what’s going to happen.”