Mickelson penalty a mistake this time
Calls violation on himself; Na wins
Phil Mickelson broke the rules again, only this time he didn’t realize it until after his violation.
Mickelson tamped down fescue grass with his foot in front of the seventh tee Sunday at A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. He then called a two-stroke penalty on himself for improvinghis line of play.
At the U.S. Open in June, Mickelson intentionally violated golf rules by hitting a moving ball on the green in the third round. He later apologized, saying his anger and frustration got the best of him.
On his gaffe Sunday, Mickelson says he “wasn’t really thinking.” After stepping on the grass, he paused before he hit his tee shot, realized the mistake and checked with a rules official, who confirmed the violation.
Na ends drought
Kevin Na broke a nearly seven-year winless drought on the PGA Tour, shooting a 6-under 64 for a five-stroke victory at The Greenbrier. Na birdied six of his first 10 holes to open up a big lead over thirdround co-leader Kelly Kraft on the Old White TPC. Na, 34, cruised from there and finished at 19under 261.
Na’s only previous tour win came in Las Vegas in October 2011.
“I wasn’t sure if it was going to come again. I was hoping it would — sooner than later,” Na said. “I’ve been close so many times, failed so many times.”
Na was one shot behind co-leaders Kraft and Harold Varner to begin the day. His birdie stretch included making putts of 24, 33 and 43 feet.
Kraft shot 70 and finished second at 14 under. Brandt Snedeker (64) and Jason Kokrak (67) tied for third at 13 under.
Kraft, Snedeker, Kokrak and Austin Cook earned spots in the British Open in two weeks. The leading four players not already exempt from the top-12 finishers qualified.
Knox prevails
Scottish golfer Russell Knox rolled in almost-identical birdie putts from around 40 feet on the 72nd hole — for a 66 — and the first playoff hole to win the Irish Open in Donegal, Ireland. After Knox made birdie on No. 18 to set the clubhouse target at 14 under, Ryan Fox of New Zealand missed an 8-foot birdie putt that would have won him the Rolex Series event. They went back down the 18th hole for the playoff and Knox pitched from 131 yards to virtually the same spot on the green. His long birdie putt curled left to right and into the cup. Fox failed to match the birdie, his putt agonizingly lipping out
Knox is set to climb into the world’s top 50, having tied for second place at the French Open last week, and is fifth in the Race to Dubai. Fox (68) secured a place in the British Open at Carnoustie, Scotland, later this month.
Kim sets mark
Sei Young Kim became the first player in LPGA Tour history to go lower than 30 under in a performance so dominant in the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic in Oneida, Wis., that she now has the tour scoring records all to herself.
Kim closed with a 7-under 65 for a nine shot victory, finishing at 31 under. That broke by four shots to par the record Kim had shared with Annika Sorenstam.