Mickelson, Woods are so money

Phil Mickelson capped off a tumultuous summer at home with a spectacular rally Sunday to win the Tour Championship.

Tiger Woods finished another big year by winning the FedEx Cup and its $10-million bonus.

In a riveting conclusion to golf’s regular season, its two biggest stars shared the stage at East Lake with trophies that were meaningful in vastly different ways.

Mickelson seized control with a 31 on the front nine and closed with a five-under-par 65 for a three-shot victory, his first since his wife and his mother were diagnosed with breast cancer in the spring. Both have a positive outlook in recovery, although it has been an emotional burden for Lefty over the last three months.

For the third time this year, Woods struggled while playing in the final pairing. He didn’t make a birdie until the 15th hole, and by then it was too late to catch Mickelson. Woods closed with an even-par 70, ending his playoff streak of eight consecutive rounds in the 60s, and was alone in second.

Even so, he received quite a consolation prize -- a FedEx Cup title that rewarded him for a year in which he came back from major knee surgery not knowing what to expect. Woods won six times, and was either first or second in more than half his events.

Mickelson, who returned to No. 2 in the world with his victory, finished at nine-under 271. He needed Woods to finish eighth or worse to have any chance in the FedEx Cup, although Mickelson still climbed to No. 2 and earned a $3-million bonus, on top of his $1.35 million for winning the Tour Championship.

So who was the big winner?

“Let me see if I get this straight,” Mickelson said. “I shot 65 and he shot [70], and he gets a check for $10 million . . . no, I’m just kidding. I didn’t play well in the first three events to give myself a chance.”

Sean O’Hair, who was two shots behind throughout the back nine with an outside chance of winning, gave the nod to Woods.

“I’d prefer the 10 million bucks in my pocket,” O’Hair said. “Yeah, I think Tiger wins today.”

Woods cared only about the Tour Championship, believing the FedEx Cup would take care of itself. When he captured the cup two years ago under a different points system, he won the final two events.

Despite a one-shot lead through 36 holes at East Lake, Woods struggled on the greens Saturday and with the rest of his game in the final round. Except for his two-putt birdie on the par-5 15th, he had only four birdie putts inside 20 feet and missed them all.

“Phil played well. He did the things he needed to do this week,” Woods said. “Unfortunately, I didn’t putt well and consequently, I didn’t push him. Phil ran off and got away from us.”

Four players had a chance to win the FedEx Cup along the back nine.

Kenny Perry was the projected winner until he chopped up the par-five ninth with a bogey and completed his meltdown on the back nine on his way to a 74. Steve Stricker, who had only to finish ahead of Woods when it became clear Mickelson would win the tournament, was in position to do that until mud on his ball in the 16th fairway led to a bogey. Stricker shot a 69 and finished sixth.

“I knew it was close, put it that way,” Stricker said of the FedEx Cup race.

Mickelson closed out the decade with bookend victories at East Lake. He also won the Tour Championship in 2000 when he rallied to beat Woods.

As for the top two players each leaving East Lake with a trophy?

“It’s certainly different,” Woods said.