Match 13: Mickelson & O'Hair win 5 and 3

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Oct. 10, 2009
By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents

SAN FRANCISCO -- Here's an in-depth look at Saturday morning's Foursomes match between the United States duo of Phil Mickelson and Sean O'Hair and the Internationals' Retief Goosen and Camilo Villegas.

Match reports: Match 13 | Match 14 | Match 15 | Match 16 | Match 17 | Complete coverage

Match 13
Phil MICKELSON/Sean O'HAIR(USA) def.
Retief GOOSEN/Camilo VILLEGAS(Int'l), 5 and 3
philcard1.jpg

Overview: The U.S. duo took a few holes to get untracked. Once they did, though, Mickelson and O'Hair steamrolled their way to victory. The International Team drew first blood when Villegas made a 13-footer at the third hole but promptly gave that advantage back with a bogey at the fourth hole -- one of three they'd make during the match. The second at the eighth hole gave the Americans a lead they would not relinquish. Mickelson holed a shot from just off the green at the ninth hole to pad the lead, and then the Americans went 3 up with a par at No. 11. O'Hair then made an 11-footer at the 13th hole for another win, and the Internationals conceded a U.S. birdie and the match at the 15th hole after missing the green. For Mickelson, the win was his third with his third different partner while O'Hair, one of two rookies on the U.S. Team, wins for the first time.

Key moment: Mickelson is putting like a demon these days after working with Dave Stockton several times in the last three weeks. But it was O'Hair's 23-footer at the 12th hole that enabled the Americans to maintain the momentum -- and 3-up lead -- with the Internationals looking at a tap-in birdie of their own there.

Quote: "Phil did a great job coaching me through today, which made me feel comfortable and helped me play my game, which was nice. I couldn't have had a better pairing today." -- Sean O'Hair

"I feel so much better on the greens and I feel very good. It's a fun format like this when you're making a few putts. We are excited to have gotten to this point. We are excited to be the first group out and lead it." -- Phil Mickelson

Updated Presidents Cup player records: Phil Mickelson (14-13-9 overall, 7-6-2 Foursomes); Sean O'Hair (1-2-0 overall, 1-1-0 Foursomes); Retief Goosen (11-9-3 overall, 2-6-2 Foursomes); Camilo Villegas (0-3-0 overall, 0-2-0 Foursomes).

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