Mickelson poised to finish job
MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA: Phil Mickelson and Paul Casey will finish the final two holes of the Pebble Beach Pro Am today after disagreeing on whether to press on when darkness fell yesterday.
At 18underpar and with a threeshot lead, a frustrated Mickelson wanted to race through the par3 17th and par5 18th despite Englishman Casey admitting he could not see.
The final round was suspended for two hours earlier due to heavy rain and hail.
The final pairing will return today with Casey facing a short par putt at the 16th to stay at 15under.
‘‘We were not going to get 18 [holes] done. It’s very dark and I couldn’t see,’’ Casey said.
‘‘If I’m not going to get done, let’s just call it right now.’’
After an early birdie, Casey struggled to make anything happen. He was on even par for the round when play was suspended.
‘‘There’s still a glimmer,’’
Casey said of his chances. ‘‘I need to do something special.’’
Despite the sun already setting, Mickelson attempted to convince a rules official to let them finish the round.
‘‘I get exactly where Paul is coming from. I have pretty good vision, so I could see fine and I am playing well . . . I wanted to keep going,’’ Mickelson said.
‘‘But [coming back] is a good thing. We’ll play the last couple holes in perfect conditions.’’
Thirteen of Mickelson’s 43 PGA Tour victories have come in his home state of California. With a victory, he would match Mark O’Meara’s record of five victories in the event, which dates back to 1937 when it was won by Sam Snead.
Scott Stallings, who fired 66 yesterday, was in the clubhouse on 15under 272, tied for second with Casey.
Australian Jason Day and South Korean Kim Siwoo, who both recorded 68s, were two strokes further back on 13under 274. — Reuters/ AAP