Beach party
Out of nowhere, Taylor rallies to beat Mickelson by one stroke at Pebble Beach,
PEBBLE BEACH, CALIF. Vaughn Taylor was ranked No. 447 in the world when Sunday’s final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am began. He had played twice in 2016, missing the cut and withdrawing from Web.com Tour events in Colombia and Panama.
He hadn’t won on the PGA Tour since 2005 and hasn’t held a PGA Tour card since 2012.
And he trailed 54-hole leader Phil Mickelson by six shots.
Now he’s going back to the Masters in his hometown of Augusta, Ga.
When Mickelson’s birdie putt from 5 feet on the 72nd hole lipped out, Taylor’s journey out of golf ’s abyss was complete. With his caddie toting a carry bag, Taylor became an unlikely winner at Pebble Beach and won for the first time in 11 years with a 7-under-par 65 to finish at 17-under 270 on another bright day by Carmel Bay and Stillwater Cove.
“It’s been a long time,” said Taylor, 39, who won Tour titles in Reno in 2004 and 2005 and played for the USA on the 2006 Ryder Cup team. “I didn’t think it would happen. And I just can’t believe it actually happened today. It’s amazing. I’ve worked so hard, but I just kept getting knocked down and knocked down. I’m at a loss for words.
“Now I’m playing in the Masters soon. It’s a dream come true.”
Mickelson, trying to end the longest victory drought of his career and win his 43rd Tour title at age 45, lost his two-shot 54-hole lead by the time he reached the sixth tee. But with a birdie from 13 feet on the 17th, the five-time major winner had a chance to force a playoff and win for the first time since the 2013 British Open — 53 events ago. He fell one shot short after a 72 and finished second.
Mickelson lamented his inability to get up and down throughout the day, especially on the second, fourth, 11th and 14th holes, where he said the shots weren’t hard at all. But Mickelson, who was trying to join Mark O’Meara as the only players to win Pebble five times, remains excited about the swing changes he’s made with new coach Andrew Getson and loves how he’s trending.
“It tells me I need to do a little work,” Mickelson said of his final round. “But I’m more determined to get back to work and get this right. I know I’m close. I know I’m on the right track. ...
“I’m having more fun playing golf as I have had in years. As disappointing as it was not to get the win, it was so much fun to get back into contention.”
Jonas Blixt, who hasn’t won since 2013, grabbed the lead with an eagle on the sixth but finished third, two back, after a 69.
World No. 1 Jordan Spieth never got on track until the final round, with his usually stellar short game and wedge play de- railing him en route to making the cut on the number and shooting rounds of 71-69-74-66 to finish tied for 21st.
Taylor, once ranked a careerhigh 37th, will turn 40 next month. His 30s were basically a nightmare until Sunday. He battled injuries and a lack of confidence. He battled a loss of game. He almost drowned in a boating accident while fishing in August 2014. Heck, last week he was hooked up to an IV in a Colombian hospital to combat food poisoning or a flu bug that bit hard.
“Oh, man, a lot of dark days and nights. But I couldn’t have done it without my family, my wife, my teachers, all my friends,” said Taylor, who stood with his wife, Leot, and son, Locklyn, just past the 18th hole as Mickelson putted, trying to force a playoff.
On Valentine’s Day, Taylor gave special tribute to his wife.
“She’s been my rock,” Taylor said. “She’s the one that kept me going and keeps me going. She always has my back, thick or thin. She never lets me get down, gives me a pat on the back to get me going again.
“I wouldn’t be here without her.”