Phil Mickelson closes, but not enough

Phil Mickelson will tell you he didn't back down from Tiger Woods. And true, Lefty was the only one with even a glimmer of hope as the storm clouds cleared out Sunday in the U.S. Open.

It hardly mattered, though. Mickelson had too many strokes to make up in the final round, especially when his target was the greatest player of this -- and maybe any other -- generation.

So the wait goes on.

The Best Player Never to Win a Major dropped to 0-for-40 in the biggest tournaments, even though he certainly didn't fade on the last day.

``It would be much more difficult if I didn't have a shot at it,'' Mickelson said. ``But that doesn't take away my disappointment or feeling of lost opportunity.''

Mickelson, whose final-round average in 11 previous Opens was 74.1, shot par 70 on the strenuous Bethpage Black Course. All it got him was another runner-up finish, his second in the Open and third overall in a major.

Woods, only 26, won his eighth major championship -- and seventh of the last 11 -- by a comfortable three strokes.

Mickelson, who marked his 32nd birthday on Father's Day, always figured he would have one or two by now.

``If I keep putting myself in these positions,'' he said, showing no sign of losing hope, ``I'll get one of those breaks and win one of these.''

Oh, this story is getting soooo old -- especially for Mickelson, who had a blank look on his face at the 16th hole when an 8-footer to save par slipped past the cup, ending whatever hope he still had.

Mickelson had another bogey at 17, his mental edge gone as a short putt lipped out of the cup. By then, he just wanted to enjoy the raucous -- and sympathetic -- cheers of the gallery on the walk up the final fairway.

``This is one of the most exciting days I've had in golf,'' he said.

Mickelson was clearly the people's champion on the people's course. When the scoreboard along the 18th green posted a birdie for Mickelson on the first hole, the stands erupted. The cheers got louder when bogeys went up for Woods on the first two holes. The lovefest didn't let up all the way around the course.

``I have never seen a crowd behind a player the way they were today with Phil,'' said Jeff Maggert, who played with Mickelson.

In the end, it didn't matter. Instead of knocking off Woods, Mickelson introduced himself to Harry ``Lighthorse'' Cooper, who had seven top-3 finishes in the majors without ever winning one.

Mickelson now has matched that unwanted mark.

His first runner-up finish in the Open -- in 1999, when Payne Stewart sank a 15-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to win by a stroke -- was OK. Mickelson's wife, Amy, gave birth to their first child, Amanda Brynn, the following day after a difficult pregnancy, and Mickelson insisted he wouldn't have hung around for a playoff, anyway.

There was no child arriving this year on Daddy's special day, just another heartbreak.

Mickelson was in no mood to discuss Woods' place in history.

``That's a conversation I don't care to be a part of,'' he said. ``I certainly respect him as a person and a player, but it's tough enough to work on my own game without trying to worry how good someone else is.''

Clearly, though, he realizes that the world's No. 1 player has set a very high bar. For perhaps the first time, Mickelson acknowledged that his soft physique is a hindrance.

Mickelson vowed to work as hard in the weightroom as he does on the driving range.

``Coming into this week, I thought even-par would be an incredible score,'' he said. ``I did that, but now I realize that I've got to raise that level if I want to win tournaments when Tiger is playing.''

At least there's still time. Mickelson has won 20 times on the PGA Tour, more than anyone else without a major. Ben Hogan had 29 victories before his first major. Sam Snead's first came with 27 wins on his resume.

Mickelson started the final round five strokes back and birdied the first hole, getting a fortunate kick out of the rough. Woods followed with three-putt bogeys at the first two holes, pulling Mickelson within two strokes.

The margin never got any closer.

Mickelson switched putters midway through the tournament, which improved his control on the green, but he still didn't make enough.

He closed within two strokes again with a birdie at the par-5 13th after a 49-minute rain delay, but Woods came along in the next group and birdied it as well.

That was it. Mickelson finished with an even-par 280.

``It's certainly tough,'' he said, ``when you spot the best player in the world five strokes.''

The last 10 months have been particularly excruciating for Mickelson. He finished second at the PGA Championship, losing to David Toms by a stroke. He was stared down by Woods at the Masters, winding up third by four strokes. Now, another runner-up finish.

Earl Woods, Tiger's father, watched the tournament on television from a nearby hotel. He doesn't know Mickelson, doesn't know if he has the mettle to ever beat Woods in a major.

But the elder Woods does know one thing: Tiger's not coming back to the field.

``If you look at it objectively, you can see him improving right before your eyes,'' Earl Woods said. ``Just watch him and see.''

Mickelson, a student of golf's long history, has been watching from the best seat in the house since Woods arrived on the PGA Tour in 1996.

Surely, he must be wondering if he's a victim of fate, a fine golfer who just happened to be born at the wrong time. But he wouldn't dwell on those sort of things Sunday.

``The more chances I give myself,'' he said, ``eventually I'm going to break through.''