The Trentonian (Trenton, NJ)

Mickelson wins match against Woods with birdie on 22nd hole

- By Joe Reedy

Phil Mickelson birdied the fourth playoff hole to beat Tiger Woods in their $9 million made-for-TV match Friday in Las Vegas.

Mickelson made a 4-foot birdie putt on a specially set up 93-yard, par 3. The match at Shadow Creek Golf Club finished in the dark with lights set up around the hole.

Mickelson said to Woods after the match: “Just know I will never let you live that down. It’s not the Masters or the U.S. Open, but it is nice to have a little something on you.”

Mickelson was 1 up after 16 holes, but Woods tied it with birdie from the fringe of the green on the par-3 17th. Both birdied the par-5 18th and then parred the first playoff hole before it went to the par-3 extra hole — which was pitch shots off the practice putting green — that they kept playing until there was a winner.

“You couldn’t have made this event any better than it was,” Woods said. “It was back and forth and very competitiv­e on a golf course that was playing on the tricky side.”

Only 700 invited guests were allowed to watch the event billed as golf’s first pay-per-view broadcast. It was marred by technical difficulti­es with viewers unable to view it on their television­s after paying $19.95. Turner and Bleacher Report representa­tives sent out links on social media allowing people to view it for free on their computers and mobile devices.

Representa­tives from Turner didn’t respond to requests from The Associated Press for comment.

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