Mickelson wins HSBC Champions; Paula Creamer dominates Tournament of Champions

It wasn’t pretty, but Phil Mickelson managed to win the HSBC Champions tournament yesterday in a three-way playoff with Ross Fisher and Lee Westwood. Mickelson shot a final round 2-over 74 for his fourth victory of 2007 and an $833,000 pay check …

Meanwhile, Paula Creamer cruised to an eight-stroke victory at the Tournament of Champions Sunday. She finished with a 4-under-par 68 for a total 268, one stroke shy of the tournament record …

“I wanted to break the record,'’ Creamer told the media. “It definitely was a goal of mine. But especially in the middle of the round where I started making some birdies and had something to go for. You know, it is kind of a bummer that I didn’t get it. But at the same time, I will take it. It’s a win.'’

Legacy Golf Links in Aberdeen, N.C., mixes playability, conditioning and aesthetics into one fine round of golf, National Golf Editor Tim McDonald writes at TravelGolf.com.