PO‘IPU — Not even the sunscreen could cool off Phil Mickelson on his way to the 2004 Grand Slam title yesterday. The 2004 Masters champ shot a course record and tied the PGA Grand Slam record with a 59 in
PO‘IPU — Not even the sunscreen could cool off Phil Mickelson on his way to the 2004 Grand Slam title yesterday.
The 2004 Masters champ shot a course record and tied the PGA Grand Slam record with a 59 in the final round of the 2004 edition of the ‘Slam. Mickelson tied Tiger Woods’ 127 36-hole total in 2002.
Mickelson poured on the sunscreen throughout the day, as the sun beemed down on another beautiful day of golf at the Po‘ipu Bay Golf Course.
Mickelson came into the event having not touched a club in over two weeks and this approach proved to be helpful.
“I thought it was a big part of the reason I fared well and I came here a bit rusty, but that’s the way it goes,” Mickelson said.
There were also a lot of firsts for the “Lefty,” which included his first Grand Slam, which led to his first-ever 59, that translated to his first Grand Slam win.
A 58 wasn’t too far away for Mickelson, in fact, he was nine feet away, as he soared the eagle try to the left. But that didn’t stop Mickelson from displaying his contagious smile after the tap-in birdie for the 59.
“There isn’t a big difference between a 58 and a 59, but there’s actually a big difference between a 59 and a 60, so I wasn’t disappointed about not hitting the putt for the 58,” Mickelson said.
At Woodmont Country Club in Maryland, during a qualifier for the 2000 U.S. Open, Shigeki Maruyama shot a 58.
Al Geiberger, Chip Beck, and David Duval are the only players to shoot 59 on the PGA Tour.
The LPGA’s Annika Sorenstam also carded a 59.
‘Master’ Phil’s score will not find its way into the record books because the PGA Grand Slam isn’t an official event.
Mickelson won the $400,000 first-prize, followed by Vijay Singh, the world’s #1 player, who finished with a 12-under-par total for the $250,000 check.
Meanwhile, U.S. Open champion, Retief Goosen, the first round leader, fell victim to a cold that plagued him throughout the day.
Goosen managed to finish one behind Singh at 11-under-par, and first-time ‘Slammer Todd Hamilton, the British Open champ rounded out the field with a one-over-par.
Mickelson definitely wants to come back next year to defend his title.
“I’d love to come back here, which means you’ve won a major, so I hope to come back next year,” Mickelson said.
The PGA and the Po‘ipu Bay Golf Course have reached an agreement to bring the Grand Slam back for the 12th consecutive year in ‘05.
