Mickelson nabs first win since U.S. Open meltdown

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. -- Phil Mickelson waited until late last year, when his clubs were collecting dust during a three-month break from golf, to reflect on a U.S. Open meltdown at Winged Foot that suddenly seemed to overshadow all his achievements.

Instead of sulking, he found a solution.

And while his five-shot victory Sunday in the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am was hardly a case of redemption, it at least changed the conversation about him from the past to his potential.

Those worried about emotional scars from his double bogey on the final hole at Winged Foot can relax.

Mickelson finally got his season on track by closing with a 6-under 66 to tie the 72-hole tournament scoring record, win for the 30th time in his career and become only the third player in PGA Tour history to surpass $40 million in earnings.

Determined to become a better driver, Mickelson was all that and more on a sunny afternoon. He missed only one fairway, turned a tight race into a runaway with three birdies in a four-hole stretch along the ocean and emerged again as a threat whenever he tees it up.

"Winning today gives me satisfaction," Mickelson said. "I believe I can take what happened at Winged Foot and make it a plus for the rest of my career. I think I'm going to be a better driver of the golf ball for the rest of my career. At least, that's the goal."

Allianz Championships

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- England's Mark James won the Allianz Championship in his first tournament of the year, closing with a 4-under 68 for a two-stroke victory over Champions Tour player of the year Jay Haas.

James finished at 15-under 201 on The Old Course at Broken Sound, and earned $240,000 for his third career victory on the 50-and-over tour.

Haas birdied the par-5 18th for a 70.

Australian Ladies Masters

GOLD COAST, Australia -- Karrie Webb completed a two-week Australian sweep, winning the Australian Ladies Masters for the sixth time. Webb, who won the Women's Australian Open, shot a course-record 62 on Saturday and finished at 19-under 269.