Phil Mickelson in disbelief after Paul Casey calls off round due to darkness
Phil Mickelson was in disbelief after Paul Casey declined to continue their final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Sunday due to darkness.
Play at Pebble Beach was delayed by the weather (rain and hail), causing the golfers to tee off later in the day. Mickelson was playing brilliant golf on Sunday as he was six under through 16 holes and leading the tournament by three strokes over Casey and Scott Stallings. Lefty overcame a three-stroke deficit to Casey entering the day and was rolling with three birdies on the back nine. On the other hand, Casey bogeyed a couple of holes on the back nine and seemed inclined to stretch things out to Monday and abide by the horn that blew to signal an end to play.
Rather than finish his putt on 16, Casey said the darkness was an issue and that he preferred to mark his putt and continue playing on Monday.
2019 has barely started but this is EASILY my favorite sports moment of the year so far. Phil Mickelson wanted to finish, Paul Casey didn't want to. And. Phil. Was. LIVID. pic.twitter.com/3rlAeI7QCy
— Jed DeMuesy (@Local12Jed) February 11, 2019
“We could finish 17 and I could tee off on 18,” Mickelson was heard telling an official.
Mickelson was also seen shaking his head after the horn sounded.
Casey wanted to wait for fresh greens to finish his putt. Then he’ll have two holes left to try and overcome Phil’s lead or finish solely in second. Not sharing second is a difference of $152,000 in prize money and world ranking and FedEx points.
If Mickelson holds on for the win, he’d tie Mark O’Meara for the most wins in tournament history (5) and would tie Tiger Woods for the most PGA Tour wins (14) in California since 1960.
