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SHANGHAI: Phil Mickelson held off a resurgent Ernie Els in a thrilling finale to win both the WGC-HSBC Champions on Sunday and a personal battle with fellow American Tiger Woods, who faded to finish sixth.
The world number two showed nerves of steel to claim the US$1.2-million winner's cheque by a stroke from the South African after hitting 69 for a 17-under-par total of 271.
Mickelson becomes the first person to win the tournament - upgraded this year to a World Golf Championship event - twice, after his triumph in 2007.
Els, desperate to win his first tournament this year and keep intact his commendable record of taking a title every year since he turned professional in 1989, had only himself to blame for finishing second.
He went to the 18th with a one-stroke lead but found the water after botching his approach to the green and finished with a bogey, spoiling an otherwise immaculate course record-matching round of 63.
USPGA Tour stalwart Ryan Moore came third after his 68 left him on 15 under, while Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy powered himself up the leaderboard with a 63 to come fourth a stroke further back.
American Nick Watney was fifth on 275.
Woods, who started two behind Mickelson, faded with an error-strewn front nine.
He recovered on the way home but a bogey at the last summed up a frustrating day for the world number one and he ended with a 72 in joint sixth, five off the pace alongside Germany's Martin Kaymer.
The victory was another personal triumph for Mickelson, who has had a difficult season interrupted by a break to care for his wife and mother who were both diagnosed with breast cancer.
The win also marks his second in a row over Woods, after narrowly beating him at the last tournament they played together, the Tour Championships in September.
The 37-year-old left-hander is hugely popular in China and massive crowds followed him and Woods, who were paired together, on a hot and humid day.
Mickelson picked up a shot on the third but slipped up with bogeys on the fourth and fifth after fluffing easy putts.
He compensated by gaining a shot on the seventh and with Els running hot in front of him, picked up consecutive birdies on the 13th and 14th to set up a thrilling finale.
He missed the green on the crucial 16th but sank an under-pressure 18-foot putt to save par and a birdie on the 17th put him back in the lead after Els hit the water.
Mickelson held his nerve coming down the last with a par to win only his second World Golf Championship event in his 29th appearance.
- AFP/yb
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