Mickelson defends title
Phil Mickelson defended his Greater Hartford Open title after making a short birdie putt on the final hole.
Mickelson carded a brilliant six-under-par 64 to edge Jonathan Kaye and Davis Love III by a stroke in Connecticut.
He finished with a four-round total of 14-under 266, two shots off the score he posted en route to last year’s title.
Mickelson became the first player to repeat as champion in the 50-year history of the event.
The world number two holed an eagle from the fairway at the seventh and overcame a bogey at the 17th with four birdies on the back nine, then put his approach at the last close to the hole before making another birdie.
The victory was the second of the season for Mickelson, who is second to Tiger Woods among active players on the PGA Tour with 21 career titles.
Kaye, the third-round leader, had the best chance to force a play-off but badly missed a 12-foot birdie putt at the final hole.
He tapped in for par to tie Love for second place on 267 - his fourth runner-up finish in 164 PGA Tour starts.
Love also had a birdie putt to join Mickelson at 266 but pulled a 15-footer and settled for the 22nd runner-up finish of his career.
Scott Verplank, who shares the course record of 61 with Mickelson, was fourth at 269, a stroke better than Joel Edwards and Jim Carter.
Edwards jumped from 30th to fifth with a superb closing round of 63.
