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Mickelson looking for win after long break Duval
seeks third straight win at Phoenix Open SCOTTSDALE, Arizona -- After shooting arguably the greatest round in PGA history, David Duval aims for his third win of the year at the $3 million Phoenix Open, which begins Thursday at the TPC of Scottsdale. Duval became just the third player in PGA history to shoot a 59, but his amazing round came in the final round and gave him a one-stroke win at the Bob Hope Classic on Sunday. He grew stronger as the 90-hole tournament went on and shot an unthinkable 8-under 28 on the back nine. Duval played the season-opening Mercedes Championships and fired a 26-under 266 to win the $468,000 first prize. After taking the second weekend of the season off to go skiing, he finished 26-under to take the $540,000 check at the Bob Hope. He is the fastest to reach the $1 million mark and could reach $1.5 million with a win here. The winner's share is once again $540,000. The quick start has pushed the 27-year-old Duval into 13th place on the PGA's all-time money list with $7,414,041. By contrast, Jack Nicklaus made $5,691,673 in his PGA career for a current ranking of 37th. Johnny Miller was the last player to win his first three starts of the year, accomplishing the feat in 1974. Miller won the Bing Crosby National Pro-Am, the Phoenix Open and the Dean Martin-Tucson Open. Looking to defend his title here is Sweden's Jesper Parnevik, who earned his only PGA Tour victory here last season, lightning up a cigar while walking the 18th hole with a comfortable lead. While Swedes have enjoyed extensive success on the LPGA Tour, the same cannot be said for the PGA. Parnevik was just the second player from his country to capture a tournament, joining Gabriel Hjertstedt, who won the B.C. Open in 1997. Parnevik, Duval and the rest of the field will be chasing the tournament record of 26-under 258 set in 1997 by Steve Jones. Always a threat in his hometown, Phil Mickelson will be shooting for his 14th career title. He won the 1996 event in a playoff. Others from Scottsdale in the tournament are Jim Carter, Billy Mayfair, Tom Purtzer and Howard Twitty. Jones, Brandel Chamblee and Jonathan Kaye hail from Phoenix. Also entered are Tiger Woods, John Daly, Jim Furyk, Lee Janzen, Justin Leonard, Vijay Singh, Payne Stewart and Fuzzy Zoeller. The 7,059-yard course at the TPC of Scottsdale is a par-71. |
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