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Toms claims win with closing 64

David Toms fired an eight-under 64 on Sunday to come from five shots down at the beginning of the round and capture the Compaq Classic. His 22-under 266 was two better than overnight leader Phil Mickelson, who finished second after a final-round 72.

Ernie Els finished alone in third at 19-under par, while Harrison Frazar took fourth at minus-18.

Toms became the first Louisiana native to win this event, which began in 1938. His 266 also set a new tournament record for the event since it has been played at English Turn Golf & Country Club. Carlos Franco, the winner here in 1999 and 2000, established the old mark of 269 in '99.

Mickelson came into the final round with a three-shot lead but fell early with a bogey at the third. The real trouble came two holes later when he hooked his tee shot right. Mickelson tried to chip into the fairway but his ball hit a tree and dropped straight down. He never recovered and took a triple-bogey that dropped him to 16-under.

Throughout the remainder of the front nine Mickelson, Els and Frazar all shared a piece of the lead until Toms reached the par-five 11th. He nailed his second shot over the green but played an explosion shot from behind the putting surface that fell into the cup for eagle. That jumped him to the top spot on the leaderboard at 19-under par.

Toms added a four-foot birdie at 12 to get to 20-under, but Mickelson tied him for the lead with a 30-foot eagle putt at 11.

The logjam at the top became a race between Toms and Mickelson, as Frazar and Els failed to pick up any birdies along the back nine. Toms made a nice par save at 13 when he drove into the right rough and played his second into a greenside bunker. Mickelson missed a six-foot birdie at the same hole to remain tied at the top.

At 14, it was Toms who missed a short birdie putt. His eight-foot attempt came up short, while Mickelson two-putted from 25 feet for par at the same hole.

The 15th proved to be the difference maker in the tournament. Toms once again found the right rough from the tee and nearly found water. He was forced to lay up at the par-five hole and eventually chipped to two feet to save par.

The world-number-two drove into the water right of the fairway and was forced to take a drop. His third shot landed in the left rough and from 116 yards out, he played his fourth 35 feet short of the hole. Mickelson two-putted for bogey and fell one behind Toms.

Toms hit his approach to three feet at 16 where he rolled in the birdie and a short-lived two-shot lead. Mickelson wedged his second at the same hole to tap-in range to get back the shot he lost at 15 and get within one of Toms.

Both players parred the difficult par-three 17th and Toms landed his second shot 25 feet right of the flag at 18. He ran in the putt for birdie as the loyal gallery shouted "L.S.U." in honor of the Louisiana State graduate.

"On the last hole I told my caddie,'how about let's just make this one for the crowd,'" said Toms, who earned his fifth career victory on the PGA Tour. "They've been incredible all week.

"It's a dream come true," said Toms, who pocketed $720,000 for the win. "Other than my first victory this has to be the most special."

Toms scored birdies at two of his first four holes before his only bogey of the round at the sixth. He added two birdies at nine and 10 before he pitched in at 11.

Mickelson took his second runner-up finish of the season to go along with three thirds. His lone win this season came at the Buick Invitational in February.

Els lost his piece of the lead with a bogey at 10 but made a birdie putt on 16 to take sole possession of third. He posted a four-under 68.

Frazar bogeyed the final hole for a one-under 71 on Sunday.

Chris Smith and second-round co-leader Brian Gay shared fifth at 17-under and Charles Howell came in sixth place at minus-16.

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