Mickelson wins at East Lake but Woods takes FedEx Cup

Phil Mickelson put the seal on a rollercoaster 2009 season with a win in the Tour Championship at East Lake, Atlanta. But despite winning the final leg of the FedEx Cup play-off tournament, it was current world number one Tiger Woods who won the big trophy.

Leading at half-way, many thought Woods would go on to win but a blistering 64 in the third round by Kenny Perry saw him take the lead going into the final round. Mickelson had started the day looking to bridge a four-shot deficit on Perry – who recently was awarded the Payne Stewart Trophy – while Woods had laid up just two shots behind the veteran American player and two in front of Mickelson.

However, while Tiger struggled to make the shots that mattered, Mickelson found his putting groove and stormed round the Georgia venue with a five-under-par round of 65 to eventually win by three strokes from Woods, who carded a level-par round of 70 to claim second. Woods’ finish was sufficient to safeguard his lead at the top of the FedEx Cup standings to collect the £7million ($10 million) winners’ cheque for the series. Mickelson, meanwhile, collected $1.35million for his win, which is his first since his wife and mother were both diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year.

Not for the first time this season, Kenny Perry wilted under the Georgia sun when it mattered most and fell away to a disappointing four-over par round of 74 to eventually finish in a tie for fourth place, alongside Padraig Harrington who had another steady performance to secure his sixth consecutive top-ten finish. Harrington’s achievement will go a long way to erasing the memories of a miserable start to the season where he struggled with his game after undergoing swing changes during the winter.

The third podium place went to Sean O’Hair, who had held onto Mickelson’s coat-tails throughout the final round before a bogey on the 17th hole finally loosened his grip. O’Hair finished with a round of 69 to finish alone in third place.

In addition to the $1.35million winners’ cheque, Mickelson also pocketed a further $3million for finishing second in the FedEx Cup standings, while the victory saw him regain second place in the world rankings.