GOLF ROUNDUP : Pro or Am, Tucson Event Still Belongs to Mickelson

Phil Mickelson recovered from an inconsistent front nine Sunday to capture the Northern Telecom Open at Tucson and become the first man to win the same tournament as an amateur and a professional.

In beating Jim Gallagher Jr. by one stroke, Mickelson shot a four-under 68 for a four-round total of 269.

Gallagher bogeyed the 18th hole when he three-putted from 45 feet. Mickelson parred the last three holes of the $1.25-million tournament after pulling into a tie with Gallagher at 18 under.

In 1991, Mickelson was playing for Arizona State when he won this event, unable to collect a cent for beating the pros. But his $225,000 first prize for his sixth consecutive top-10 finish in Tucson, including two as an amateur, increased his 1995 earnings to $244,250.

Gallagher shot 69 and finished in a tie with Scott Simpson at 270. Brett Ogle was fourth at 271.

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Fred Couples became the first American to win the Dubai Desert Classic, firing a six-under 66 in beating Colin Montgomerie of Scotland by three strokes.

Couples completed four trips around the Emirates Golf Club at 268, 20 under, and won $112,500.

“Today, I was not trying to beat Nick (Price), Greg (Norman) or Colin, but just to play the course,” Couples said.

Montgomerie, who had started the final round tied for the lead with Couples, shot a 69 for a 271 total.

Price, the world’s No. 1 player, had a 68 for 272 and tied for third.

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In a Hall of Fame career, Pat Bradley has played a lot of great rounds. Sunday, she had one of her best.

“From tee to green, I’ve never hit the ball better in my 22-year career,” she said.

Bradley shot a bogey-free, four-under 68 and beat Beth Daniel by a stroke to win the LPGA HealthSouth Inaugural.

Bradley finished at 5-under 211 for three rounds at Walt Disney’s Eagle Pines in Orlando, Fla., and earned $67,500 for the 31st victory of her career.