Around sports: Taylor emerges as surprise victor at Pebble Beach

Mickelson, 45, made four bogeys in the round after he’d played Pebble Beach without a scorecard blemish on Saturday in shooting 66.

The world No. 32’s reaction said it all; doubled over, one hand on his knee and the other on his putter. ‘It taught him, ‘ she says now, ‘that life is precious.’ That might have been a lesson that Taylor needed. And it just tells me I still need a little bit of work.

As for Taylor, he’s now heading to the Masters after more than ten years since his last victory.

Mickelson made use of the holes he had remaining to get within striking distance. A flawless drive, approach and wedge on the par-5 18th left him 5 feet short as the large gallery cheered as if he had already forced a playoff. Hiroshi Iwata of Japan was within one until he dropped a shot at the 16th.

On the 15th his shot out of the rough struck the ball of Matt Jones and stopped just two foot short of the cup. He instead set up for a chip-and-putt situation for birdie. The crowd was large and loud, exhorting Mickelson to make one more birdie and force a playoff.

“To be even par, I mean I should be really, I would say average for me there would be 7- or 8-under”, he said.

He was an alternate but locked in a spot on Monday. “Everybody can win out here, and I’m happy my guy won this week”. And I just can’t believe it actually happened today.

The victory is the first for Taylor on the pro tour in 11 years. The Augusta, Ga. native is now also qualified for the Masters and the PGA Championship. Zero surprises if he wins soon or if he wins a major championship this year. “I never thought it was over”. “I mean, are you kidding?”

With the win, Taylor earned his tour card – something he has not had since 2012 – for the next two years.

That long had been the strength of Mickelson’s game when he won 42 times on Tour, four of those titles in the AT&T. In September 2014 he had a harrowing experience while fishing near home on the Savannah River. “I made some good swings”.

Along the way, he attempted to get that elusive win. I don’t wanna take the credit. “The best players don’t play good every week”.

“That was the only good thing”, Iwata said with a smile. Maybe I should have enjoyed the ride.

“I don’t know if those past experiences help or hurt”, he admitted.

But the cozy confines of Pebble Beach can accentuate even the smallest flaws. But here was Vaughn, ranked 447, chasing down and then surpassing everyone. The round included six birdies and no bogeys.

His second trip this week was much more of a joyful adventure. He shot 72-65-73-65 and finished T6. “I’m just at a loss for words”.

Murray was so upset at the gawkers (who were reportedly less than 10 feet away from him) that he grabbed the phones and threw them off a second-floor balcony.

Jonas Blixt, who hasn’t won since 2013, grabbed the lead with an eagle on the sixth but finished third, two back after a 69.