Winning Performance at Northern Trust Open

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Hollywood stars weren’t the only ones picking up trophies on Sunday. Phil Mickelson earned his first win of the 2009 season with a gutsy, go-for-broke performance at The Riviera Country Club. When it mattered most, he trusted the versatility, distance and control of the new FT-9 Driver, paired with the No. 1 irons brand in golf and the fastest-growing golf ball on Tour, to defend his title at the 2009 Northern Trust Open.

The defending champion began Sunday leading by four shots, and all signs pointed to a win when he eagled the first hole for the third straight day in a row. But Mickelson struggled between brilliance and bogey part of the day Sunday before regaining his pace on the final three holes.

Refusing to relinquish his title, he relied on his FT-9 Driver and Big Bertha Diablo 3-Wood, paired with the Tour ix Golf Ball, to subdue his challengers and put his game back on track. Mickelson overcame a two-shot deficit Sunday afternoon, sparked by a key, 157-yard shot with his Callaway X-Prototype 9-iron that put him in position for a four-foot-seven-inch birdie putt on No. 16. A monster, 323-yard drive on No. 17 put him on the green in two to make birdie, and he made par on 18. Mickelson averaged more than 297 yards off the tee for the week and averaged nearly 71 percent greens in regulation.

“I hit two of the best drives that I’ve hit all week on 15 and 17,” Mickelson said. “That drive on 17 was important because it gave me a chance to reach the green in two.”

With his charge on the final three holes, he finished the day 1-over-par 72, with a final score of 15-under 269. (63-72-62-72) Mickelson made bogey on the 18th at Riviera two years ago and lost in a playoff. After tasting victory last year, he was determined to not let this one slip away.

“I’ll take a lot out of this,” Mickelson said. “To make par on 18 when two years ago I didn’t, that meant a lot to me.”

Mickelson also used X-Prototype Irons from Callaway, along with X-Forged Wedges, an Odyssey White Hot XG Blade Putter and Callaway Exotic Chev footwear in his 35th professional victory. This week at Riviera, Mickelson was among 21 players who relied on Tour i Series Golf Ball technology. Callaway Golf Ball Staff Professional Rory Sabbatini also made a strong showing at the Northern Trust Open with his Tour i Golf Ball and the new Hyperbolic shoes from Callaway Footwear. Sabbatini finished at 12-under for the tournament, three strokes behind Mickelson, and tied for sixth.