Pebble Beach, California, February 11, 2019 – Phil Mickelson navigated weather delays, wet course conditions and a Monday morning mini-finish to emerge with his record-tying fifth victory in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, a collection of tournament triumphs that began in 1998, equaling the mark set by Mark O’Meara in 1997.
And he did it at age 48, making him the oldest champion in tournament history.
“This is a special victory,” said Mickelson, whose 19-under-par total of 268 was three shots better than runner-up Paul Casey. “I played some of my best golf to be able to do it.”
Mickelson’s closing round of 65, 7-under par, included six birdies Sunday, including impressive back-to-back birdies on the par-4 ninth and 10th holes at Pebble Beach, which pulled him into a tie for the lead with Casey. On the 11th, Casey bogeyed, giving Mickelson the lead by one, then Casey bogeyed 12 and Mickelson birdied 13 for a three-shot lead he would not relinquish.
“Phil shot a phenomenal round of golf in cold and testing conditions,” said Casey, who closed with a 2-under-par 70 for 271. Scott Stallings was third at 272, with Jason Day and Si Woo Kim tied for fourth at 274.
Mickelson – whose tournament wins have come in 1998, 2005, 2007, 2012, 2019 – has been phenomenal for a while. From 1998 through 2019, his total scoring is 149-under par in the tournament.
The start of Sunday’s round was delayed an hour due to wet course conditions. Then a hailstorm hit just before 11 a.m. that caused a 2-hour, 7-minute delay for course cleanup and repairs. That resulted in the final group – featuring front-runners Mickelson and Casey – unable to finish before dark. They resumed Monday at 8 a.m. to complete two holes.
It was the 10th time the tournament was extended to Monday (11th including the 1998 tournament that was completed on Aug. 17 – which was a Monday). Three times the Monday rounds also were canceled due to rain.
Weather was an issue all week. Second-round tee times were moved up an hour in an attempt to complete play before the Friday storm hit the peninsula. Most of the field beat the torrential downpour, which by 2:11 p.m. forced suspension of play. There were 44 teams still on the three courses, with as many as four holes to finish.
The second round was completed Saturday morning and the third round started on time, under blue skies – which turned into a rainstorm that pounded the coastline during the noon hour.
Casey captured the consolation prize, winning the pro-am team title with his partner, FedEx Corporation executive Don Colleran, a 13-handicap from Memphis, Tenn. The pair – the only team that did not finish Sunday – wound up 34-under par at 253, two shots clear of the competition.
The pro field included 10 past champions from the tournament, ranging from the 1980s (Steve Jones), 1990s (Mickelson) and 2000s (Davis Love III). The amateur field included a record 10 women – including 2015 Miss America Kira Kazantsev, who made the cut, as did Julie Frist.
The celebrity amateur field featured several newcomers, including Kazantsev, actor Michael Pena and NFL quarterback Matt Ryan, who joined QB legends Aaron Rodgers and Tony Romo. Friday, Romo made a remarkable “birdie from the bar” Friday on the par-4 15th hole at Pebble Beach, pitching his second shot from the Patriots Outpost hospitality tent’s carpeted deck to 18 inches from the hole.
Celebs making the pro-am team cut for Sunday’s final round were comics Ray Romano and Larry The Cable Guy, as well as country music artists Joe Don Rooney and Jake Owen.
LEADERS:
First Round – Brian Gay -7 (64 MP), Scott Langley -7 (64 MP), Phil Mickelson -6 (65 MP), Matt Every -6 (65 MP), Si Woo Kim -6 (66 PB), Kevin Kisner -6 (65 MP), Cody Gribble -6 (66 SH), Jason Day -6 (65 MP); nine players tied at -5.
Second Round – Phil Mickelson -10 (133/68 SH), -10 Lucas Glover (134/66 PB), -10 Scott Langley (133/69 SH), -10 Paul Casey (133/64 MP), Jordan Spieth -9 (134/68 SH), Jason Day -9 (134/69 SH),
Third Round – Paul Casey -15 (200/67 SH), Phil Mickelson -12 (203/70 PB), Scott Piercy -11 (204/69 SH), Lucas Glover -11 (204/70 MP), Brian Gay -10 (205/69 PB), Matt Every -10 (205/69 PB), seven tied at -9.
CUT: 70 pros made the cut at 213, 2-under par, with 60 advancing to Sunday’s final round. The pro-am team cut was 198, 17-under par, with the limit of 25 teams advancing (six of eight teams at 198 eliminated through the tiebreaker).
COURSE AVERAGES: Pebble Beach 72.173 (4 rounds); Spyglass Hill 71.723 (3 rounds); Monterey Peninsula 70.652 (3 rounds).
WEATHER: Wet conditions all week with temperatures ranging from early morning 40s to highs in the 50s. Thursday mostly sunny, high of 54, with winds at 8-12 mph. Friday heavy rain suspended play, high of 48, winds at 5-10mph. Saturday mostly sunny morning, afternoon showers, high of 48, wind 15-20 mph. Sunday rain and hail mid-day, then mostly sunny, high of 54, winds 15- 27 mph.
About Monterey Peninsula Foundation
Monterey Peninsula Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that donates funds from the proceeds of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on the PGA TOUR and the PURE Insurance Championship Impacting The First Tee, a PGA TOUR Champions tournament. The Foundation focuses on improving the quality of life in Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito counties.
www.montereypeninsulafoundation.org
www.attpbgolf.com
www.pureinsurancechampionship.org