Associated PressFORT WORTH, Texas ó Phil Mickelson made a 9-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a one-stroke victory at the Crowne Plaza Invitational over Tim Clark and Rod Pampling, who led by two strokes going to the back nine Sunday.
It was the 34th career victory for Mickelson, who began the final round with a one-stroke lead. But like he did the day before, Mickelson fell behind before regaining the lead on his final putt of the day.
Lefty had a closing 2-under 68 to finish at 14-under 266. Mickelson won at Colonial in 2000, and has won 11 tournaments multiple times.
– ROCHESTER, N.Y. ó Jay Haas overcame a shaky putter during a topsy-turvy final round that bordered on the surreal ó this was unmercifully stingy Oak Hill after all ó to hang on and win his second Senior PGA Championship in three years.
Haas endured a five-bogey, one-birdie round of 74 to finish the tournament at 7-over 287 and claim the $360,000 first prize.
– CORNING, N.Y. ó Leta Lindley stared in disbelief when the putt disappeared into the cup, and who could blame her.
Lindley’s winning birdie came on the first hole of a playoff ó her first career victory in her 295th professional start on tour.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
GREENSBORO ó Top-ranked North Carolina, the two-time College World Series runner-up, was one of four ACC schools selected Sunday as regional hosts for the NCAA tournament.
The Tar Heels, who lost to Oregon State in the championship game in Omaha the past two years, joined conference champion Miami, Florida State and North Carolina State as ACC hosts.
Each of the 16 host schools are guaranteed berths in the 64-team tournament, which starts Friday.
“There were some pretty impressive records in the ACC,” Division I selection committee chairman Larry Templeton said. “At the end of the day, we just felt like we had picked the four sites from the ACC that we were comfortable with, and we wanted to make sure we had national balance across the country and that’s how we ended up.”
The rest of the field, including the top eight national seeds, will be announced today.
HORSES
NEW YORK ó Triple Crown contender Big Brown has a slight crack to his left front hoof, although trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. expressed confidence Sunday the injury won’t keep his colt from running in the Belmont Stakes in less than two weeks.
The trainer said he was 100 percent confident Big Brown would be in top form when he attempts to become the first Triple Crown champion since Affirmed in 1978.
“I sure am,” he said.
NBA
GAINESVILLE, Fla. ó Authorities in Gainesville have charged Chicago Bulls forward and former Florida star Joakim Noah with possession of marijuana and having an open container of alcohol.
RACING
MONTE CARLO, Monaco ó McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton has won the Monaco Grand Prix.
The British driver also took the overall lead in the F1 title race after his victory at the famous street circuit Sunday.
Hamilton finished 3 seconds ahead of Robert Kubica in difficult wet conditions. Felipe Massa of Ferrari was third, followed by Mark Webber of Red Bull.