Al S. Mendoza
All Write

IN golf, one shot is one shot. That one shot can win it, lose it.

Phil Mickelson greened a shot from the rough on Sunday (Nov. 8).

"The Manny Pacquiao Blog". Click here for stories and updates on the Filipino boxing champ.

That won for him the HSBC Champions Golf in Shanghai, China, setting him up for a routine, title-clinching two-putt par victory.

Mickelson pocketed $1.2 million, plus the prestige of finally beating Tiger Woods when they were paired in a championship flight.

Woods repeatedly missed birdie putts, including two from four feet and 10 feet, and double-bogeyed the par-3 fourth.

He babied a birdie putt on 17, and next found water on 18 en route to a 72– 5 shots behind the 17-under-par Mickelson.

“Anything that could go wrong, went wrong for me today,” said Tiger.

Only one thing went wrong for Ernie Els that day.

Leading by one shot over Mickelson with one hole to go, Els, monikered Big Easy, went wet when he did the foolish thing of going for the green on the par-5 18th instead of laying it up.

A green in three—which was 99.99 percent sure of happening considering that Els was well within sight of the flag—would have assured Els of at least a title-playoff with Mickelson.

A green in three would have likewise given Els a birdie chance—and sinking it would have clinched it to end his victory drought.

After Els saw water, alas, nothing else mattered but his South African pride.

Before winning, Mickelson himself flirted with disaster. He drove his tee shot on 18 into deep rough. Next, he misfired again to see rough a second time.

It was then that he hit the shot of the tournament, planting a wedge into the green.

My applause goes to Mickelson, my pro during the 1998 Toyota World Match Play in Wentworth, England.

My thoughts go to Tiger, my idol since the day I shook his young palm in the 1987 World Juniors in San Diego, California.

In victory, Mickelson said, “Nothing came easy today.”

Not even for Big Easy, whose blazing 9-under-par 63 on Sunday was still one shot short of victory.

My heart goes to Els, my pro during the 1995 Johnnie Walker Pro-Am in Phuket, Thailand.

“I am disappointed, but I am going to think about the 63 I shot,” Els said.

What else can I say?