What a tournament. What a weekend. What a winner.

Phil Steam Ahead

If you can find me somebody who predicted Phil Mickelson to win (barring those who have predicted him to win every event for the past five years), I'll find you somebody outside of the Thomas family who didn't want him to win that playoff. Maybe I'll even find somebody who felt sorry for Tyrrell Hatton after the bobbled putt. Ok, maybe that's a bit of a stretch.

Almost five years after his famous 2013 Open Championship victory, Mickelson returned to the winners' circle as he became the oldest winner of a WGC event at the tender age of 47. 'Lefty' wasn't content with just winning the hearts of a generation of golf fans, and apparently isn't content with his 43rd career win. Following the win at Club de Golf Chapultepec, the PGA Tour legend was adamant about making it a half-century. Labelling himself a 'pretty optimistic guy' feels like a major understatement given the crop of young players he'll be competing against for the next seven wins, but who wouldn't love to see him do it?

How it Happened

21-year-old rising star Shubhankar Sharma led the way into the weekend after following an opening round of 6-under with a 5-under on Friday. A Saturday 69 on the par-71 course took him to 13-under and top spot heading into the final round. He couldn't hold on, though, as a 3-over Sunday saw him fall to T9. Tyrrell Hatton ensured an Englishman finished inside the top-3 for the second year running, with his 15-under earning him a T3 alongside Spain's Rafa Cabrera Bello. But it was in controversial circumstances that he missed out on a playoff spot as a substantial bobble on the green caused him to miss his par putt. There's no questioning that the putt did take a bobble, but a poor chip in the previous shot had brought frustration to the surface and the missed putt brought on a typical Tyrrell temper tantrum. A sore loser, to be frank, and his ungraceful reaction will not have earned him the sympathy he felt he was owed.

Justin Thomas was eleven off the pace at level-par heading into the weekend, but a remarkable course-record 62 took him to 9-under after consulting his father-turned-swing-coach by sending videos of himself practicing between rounds. Momentum carried Thomas to 14-under after 71 holes. 119 yards out, one hole left, two shots off the lead... was the eagle ever in doubt? Thomas watched on as Mickelson held par and Hatton faltered to set up a two-man playoff.

47 year-old Vs. 24 year-old. You could say that it came down to experience, but the 2017 FedEx Cup winner doesn't exactly lack experience in the way most do at his age. Still, Lefty held his nerve for a clutch par putt as JT fell to a bogey and runner-up spot. A crowd-pleaser in Mexico, that's for sure.

Phil Mickelson - What's in the Bag?

Driver: Callaway Rogue Sub Zero

Fairway Wood: Callaway Rogue Sub Zero

Hybrid: Callaway Rogue

Irons: Callaway Epic Pro (4-iron), Callaway X Forged 2018 (5-PW)

Wedges: Callaway Mack Daddy PM Grind

Putter: Odyssey Versa #9 White

Golf Ball: Callaway Chrome Soft X

Written by Joe Carabini

joe.carabini@foremostgolf.com