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Mickelson beats Berganio in playoff

Phil Mickelson wasn't a bit surprised to win the first tournament he's played in five months.

Well-rested, stronger after working with weights, and even sharper with his short game, Mickelson birdied the final three holes of regulation, then nailed his wedge shot from 80 yards within inches of the pin on the first playoff hole to win the Bob Hope Classic on Sunday.

``It's only been five months. It's not that long. I've played golf for 29, 30 years, so it's not like I'm going to forget how,'' Mickelson said after beating David Berganio after Berganio hit into the water on the first extra hole.

On the way to his 20th career PGA Tour title and a $720,000 payday, Mickelson closed with an 8-under 64 to finish the five-day event at 30 under. Berganio, looking for his first win, shot a 66. He birdied two of the last three holes of regulation to force the playoff.

``I'm pleased that I shot 8 under and very pleased to have won,'' Mickelson said after he ran his playoff record to 5-1 and earned a lifetime tour exemption by winning 20 times, a feat accomplished by only 33 others.

``To have won 20 times, and to play golf, which is what most people do on vacation, as my job is great.''

Mickelson capped his 64 with a brilliant flop shot that set up his birdie on No. 18.

``It was a good shot, yeah,'' he said of the shot out of a difficult lie on the fringe that left him a short birdie putt.

Berganio's muffed 4-iron on the first playoff hole cost him.

After hitting his tee shot into the middle of the fairway on the extra hole, the par-5, 543-yard No. 18 on the Palmer Course at PGA West, Berganio left the blade of his club slightly open and hit into the water in front of the green.

He pitched within 8 feet of the pin and had a good shot at salvaging par, but Mickelson clinched it with his right-on-the-money wedge and tap-in.

Mickelson said his goal during his time off was to improve his short game.

``I felt like I became more consistent from 130 (yards) in, and more efficient. That's why I'm excited to have won the tournament, because what I've specifically worked on paid off,'' said Mickelson, who already had one of the best short games on the tour.

Berganio also wasn't surprised that Mickelson won his first time back, saying, ``He broke his leg a few years ago and came back and almost won in Dallas. We've been doing it (playing) forever. It's not like we're going to lose it.''

After he hit onto the 18th green, Berganio almost sensed what was coming next from Mickelson, 80 yards away.

``You can't count Phil out because of his short game, and he knew exactly what he was doing and he did it. He's a great player, obviously, and he showed it right there,'' Berganio said.

Talking about his costly second shot in the playoff, Berganio said, ``I was trying to hit a hard cut on the right portion of the green and I just chunked it.''

Briny Baird and Cameron Beckman tied for third at 28 under. Jerry Kelly, who won a week earlier in Hawaii, was fifth at 27 under.

Jay Haas, the 1988 Hope champion who had been in or near the lead much of this week, had a 74 to finish six strokes back at 336.

Mickelson won twice last year, was second behind Tiger Woods on the money list, and was in the top 10 in his final three events of the season before taking time off for the birth of his second daughter. He then extended his vacation from the tour, skipping this year's first two events.

He took the lead for first time when he rolled in a 30-foot birdie putt on No. 17 to go to 7 under for the day and 29 under for the tournament.

Berganio's 66 included an eagle at No. 11 that started him on his way to a 31 on the last nine holes of regulation. The second-place finish is the best of his career. He tied for third last year in the Greater Hartford Open, two strokes behind Mickelson.

John Daly, playing his first tournament of the year, finished at 21 under, ruining his chance to make a run at the title by shooting a par 72 the fourthday.

Divots

Chrysler sponsors the Hope. ... Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani was among the spectators for the final round. Having spent the past several days on the West Coast, Giuliani said he said he had been warmly welcomed and that he sensed the same feeling of unity from the people that he had in New York in the aftermath of Sept. 11. ... Seventeen players were within five shots of Haas' lead beginning the final round. ... Broadcaster and former pitcher Don Sutton was in the group of three amateurs who finished fourth in the four-day pro-am with a team score of 61 under. Emmitt Smith of the Dallas Cowboys and Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks were on the team that finished eighth at 60 under. ... Saturday's cut to the low 70 pros came at 13-under 275, the lowest in the history of the tournament. The previous two years, the cut was at 277. Among those who didn't make it to the last day this time were last year's Joe Durant, who was at 278 after four rounds, and 2000winner Jesper Parnevik, who was at 277.

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