* Overnight leader Oosthuizen finishes two shots back
* Mickelson finishes in a tie for fourth place
(Adds details, quotes)
April 1 (Reuters) – American Hunter Mahan became the first
golfer to record multiple wins on the PGA Tour this year by
claiming a one-stroke victory over Sweden’s Carl Pettersson at
the Houston Open in Humble, Texas, on Sunday.
Mahan, who won the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in
February, shot a one-under-par 71 in Sunday’s final round at
Redstone for a 16-under-par total of 272 in the last event
before the U.S. Masters.
“It feels great to come to 18 knowing you got to have a par
to win and hit two good shots and make an easy two-putt. Feels
great,” Mahan told reporters after claiming his fifth career
victory on the PGA Tour.
Mahan, 29, said the victory boosted his confidence and that
he was looking forward to attempting to capture his first major
championship at Augusta National starting on Thursday.
“I’m playing good. I’m glad I’m going to Augusta, it’s
really a special place and I’m looking forward to going there.”
Pettersson, who held the lead before a two-shot swing in the
middle of the round put Mahan back on top of the leaderboard,
also posted a 71 for 273.
Former British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen of South
Africa began the day with a two-stroke lead but double-bogeyed
the fifth and eighth holes to slide back.
Oosthuizen, who romped to a seven-stroke victory at the 2010
British Open, got back on track on the back nine with three
birdies to complete a 75 and finish third at 274.
Tied for fourth place at 14-under 276 were Americans Phil
Mickelson (71), Keegan Bradley (71) and Jeff Overton (68) along
with Briton Brian Davis (74).
“I didn’t hit the ball close enough with my irons,” said
Mickelson, who won the tournament last year.
“My iron play wasn’t the best this week, and then when I had
a lot of good putts that came close, they didn’t quite fall like
last year.”
LEFT IT SHORT
Pettersson used a birdie at the first and another at the
fourth hole to move into the lead as Oosthuizen struggled.
But the burly Swede bogeyed the 10th as Mahan ended a string
of eight successive pars with a birdie at the ninth to take the
lead. Mahan added a stroke to his advantage with another birdie
at the 10th.
Mahan, who stood second after three rounds, gave back a
stroke with a bogey at the par-three 14th, but held his nerve
down the stretch.
Holding a one-shot lead, the American hit a perfect drive at
the 488-yard par-four 18th and striped a seven-iron on a line
just past the pin and two-putted for victory.
Pettersson had one last chance to pressure Mahan, but his
birdie putt at the 18th came up short.
“I played really good today,” the Swede said. “I couldn’t
make a putt on the back-nine. I gave myself good chances coming
in. Just a little (disappointed) I left it short on 18.”
Ernie Els was one of a number of players who needed a win at
Redstone in order to qualify for next week’s Masters.
The big South African, who has played in the last 18
Masters, posted a final-round 70 to finish tied for 12th on 278.
(Reporting by Larry Fine in New York; Editing by Frank
Pingue/Patrick Johnston)
