Picture credit: Doug Mills/The New York Times SPRINGFIELD, N.J., Aug. 15 - Phil Mickelson birdied the 18th hole today to win the 87th P.G.A. Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club by one stroke over Steve Elkington of Australia and Thomas Bjorn of Denmark.
Tiger Woods, who did not play a shot today, finished in a tie for fourth with Davis Love III, two shots back.
The victory was the second major of Mickelson's career, adding to his 2004 Masters title, and brought conclusion to a championship that lasted five days, after two weather delays caused by lightning left Sunday's final round incomplete.
"I'm just ecstatic that I was able to get it done," said the 35-year-old Mickelson, who resumed his round today by making a 3-foot putt for par on the 14th hole.
After making bogey on No. 16, Mickelson stepped to the 18th hole - the 554-yard par 5 - tied for the lead with Elkington and Bjorn and needing a birdie to win. He laced a drive down the fairway and hit a 3-wood into thick rough in front of the green, 35 feet from the pin.
Though the ball settled down in the rough, Mickelson said the lie wasn't terrible. He hit a pitch shot - the kind he has practiced since he was a child, he said. The ball settled two feet from the cup.
He rolled in the short putt for birdie, finishing with a four-under 276, and the large gallery by the 18th green erupted in cheers, as it has each day for Mickelson.
"Phil, you're one of us now," came a shout from the gallery.
Mickelson had come close in major championships before in the New York area, finishing second at the United States Open at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, N.Y., in 2002 and at Shinnecock Hills in Southampton, N.Y., in 2004.
"The people here in New Jersey treated me and my wife amazing," Mickelson said.
Elkington and Bjorn each had a chance to make a birdie before Mickelson took the title. Elkington, playing two groups ahead of Mickelson, missed a 10-foot birdie try after hitting a wedge close.
Bjorn, one group in front of Mickelson, lipped out a 20-foot birdie attempt after blasting out from the back left bunker.
"What can you do?" Bjorn said. "You can only say that that was not meant to be."
Mickelson, who before April 2004 had no majors, has a pair of them now, each earned with a birdie putt on the final hole.
"It's an amazing feeling to be the winner and to be able to hold this trophy," Mickelson said. "It just feels terrific."
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