Mickelson cruises to victory by five shots

PEBBLE BEACH, California, Feb 12 (Reuters) Phil Mickelson shrugged off a lost ball and early double-bogey to win his 30th PGA Tour title by a record-equalling five shots at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

The Masters champion, who says he has never driven the ball better, fired a sparkling six-under-par 66 in benign conditions to claim his third triumph on the Pebble Beach Golf Links.

Co-leader overnight with fellow American Kevin Sutherland, Mickelson overcame a double-bogey at the par-three fifth, where he overshot the green with his tee shot, to finish on 20-under 268.

The left-hander birdied three of the last four holes in glorious late afternoon sunshine to clinch his 10th title in his home state of California and match the tournament record for winning margin and 72-hole total.

Four players had previously triumphed at Pebble Beach by five shots, Fuzzy Zoeller most recently in 1986, while Mark O'Meara set the tournament low with a 20-under total in 1997.

''This is exciting,'' a beaming Mickeson told reporters. ''I've got off to a good start and I'm really excited with the way the week went.

''To come out on top and start '07 with a victory gives me some momentum and I can't wait for next week (the Nissan Open in Los Angeles) and the upcoming majors.'' Mickelson's playing partner Sutherland birdied the last for a 71 and second place at 15 under with PGA Tour rookie John Mallinger a further stroke back in third, also after a 71.

Britain's Greg Owen, boosted by an eagle-three at the sixth, fired a 67 to share fourth place at 12 under with Davis Love III (69).

FAST START Mickelson, previously champion here in 1998 and 2005, made a fast start in near-perfect conditions with birdies at the second and the fourth, where he rolled in a 12-footer.

Two strokes clear playing the par-three fifth, he overclubbed with his tee shot and had to declare a lost ball after a fruitless five-minute search.

After trudging back to the tee to hit his third shot, Mickelson boldly attacked the pin for a second time but was unable to sink a 12-footer there to escape with a bogey-four.

He immediately recovered with a birdie at the sixth, where he almost holed out from a greenside bunker, before breaking clear of the chasing pack at the par-four eighth, where he struck his approach to within eight feet of the flag.

Further birdies at the 10th and 11th stretched his lead to four before he dropped his second shot of the day at the par-four 13th after failing to reach the green in two and missing a two-foot par putt.

That blemish was a minor hiccup, though, with the tournament firmly in his grip over the back nine.

With precise driving and pinpoint approach play, the three-times major winner set up further birdies at the 15th and 17th before signing off in style with a tap-in birdie putt at the last.

REUTERS DKS BST0625