Mickelson lips out birdie putt, loses by one at Pebble Beach

The Masters win five years ago shows he has the ability to perform away from familiar surroundings, and the Johannesburg native hopes to build on this success for the rest of the season.

Taylor claimed his first PGA Tour title in more than a decade, but had a little bit of help from Phil Mickelson who blew his chance to win a first title since 2013 when he missed a five-foot birdie putt at the 18th which would have forced a playoff.

But people had wondered the same thing about Taylor for more than 10 years. Even more mystifying was the way it returned. The doubters included Taylor.

“I can’t believe it happened again”.

Vaughn Taylor and Gregg Ontiveros are the winning team at the 2016 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Maybe it was Valentine’s Day, or the fact that Taylor had just won $1.26 million, but his eyes welled with tears.

Seven strokes ahead after opening with rounds of 62 and 66, the 58-year-old Langer finished at 15-under 201 at TwinEagles. Patrick Reed was one of the big movers on the day, with his round of 65 propelling him to 12-under and a share of sixth with Justin Rose (69).

Of course, there was gloom for Mickelson and his supporters. I didn’t even have my tour card and got in this week on past champion status, and now I’m playing in the Masters pretty soon. He’s been the runner-up three times since on tour. Taylor was going nowhere. “I just tried to put a good roll on it…”

And without getting overly dramatic, he nearly lost his life. He considered flying home to Augusta, Ga., to rest, but instead came straight to Monterey because it was cheaper. “I thought I hit it OK today”. It took him almost 10 minutes to get to shore, and he said if not for his tackle box that he used as a flotation device, he might not have survived.

“It was a gift from God”. “I love that finish, the last three holes trying to catch the leader and get into a playoff”.

He hadn’t won on the PGA Tour since 2005, hasn’t held a PGA Tour card since 2012.

“I’m not in contention”, said Spieth.

“As nervous as I was and as disappointed as I am that I didn’t win, this was so much fun for me to get back into the thick of it, to feel the pressure, to make a couple of clutch putts on 16 and 17. The list is endless”. Mickelson was 23 for 23 on putts inside of 6 feet this week.

“Oh my God”, he said. “I mean, are you kidding?”

“It was a life changer”, Taylor said. But I couldn’t have done it without my family and teachers. “I’m just at a loss for words”.

This one wouldn’t have afforded him an addition to his major championship total.

His second shot on No. 18 came about five feet from the green, leaving the possibility of chipping in for eagle and grabbing the win.