LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. – Canada’s Mike Weir is tied for eighth after two rounds of the Web.com Tour’s LECOM Suncoast Classic.

The 48-year-old from Brights Grove, Ont., shot rounds of 66-68 to trail the lead by six.

Weir, who has played just 10 PGA Tour events since 2017 after losing status, is entered in his third straight Web.com event under a unique category.

The top three players on the PGA Tour career money list ages 48 and 49 are eligible for most Web.com events. Weir, the 2003 Masters champion and an eight-time PGA Tour winner, sits 38th on that list, so can get into most Web.com tournaments.

The category is designed to give top 48- and 49-year-olds more competitive playing opportunities before they’re eligible for PGA Tour Champions at age 50.

“I’m excited about my game and I love to compete,” Weir said. “The PGA Tour Champions is less than a year and a half away for me, so I want to be sharp for that. And who knows, if I play well enough out here I could get my PGA Tour card back at 49 years old, which would be pretty fun.”

The top 25 on the Web.com points list at season’s end earn PGA Tour cards for the following season.

Weir tied for 41st last week at the Panama Championship after missing the cut the previous week in Colombia.

Michael Gligic of Burlington, Ont., who won last week’s event in Panama, is the next Canadian in line at 5 under par to sit T51.

Weir got to know Gligic during a practice round in Colombia.

“He’s a great young man,” Weir said. “I’m really impressed with his game, he’s been at it for a while now and paid his dues, and I’m super happy for him.”

After announcing her retirement from competitive golf in the summer of 2016, Rebecca Lee-Bentham has spent the last two years teaching the game she loves to others.

In doing so, the 26-year-old says she’s developed a greater appreciation for the sport – and it’s a key reason why she’s decided to make a comeback.

“Seeing the game from a different perspective has really helped me understand the game better. I’ve learned so much as a coach,” she said. “Reviewing the ups and downs of my previous LPGA experience will definitely help me better prepare myself for this next chapter.”

Lee-Bentham reveals her decision to give competitive golf another try happened during the recent holidays in December.

“It’s funny because I’ve been asked so many times if I’d ever try to go back out on Tour or if I missed Tour life; and my answer has always been ‘no.’ It’s something I honestly thought I was done with – simply because I found happiness being back home,” pointed out the former national team member.

“It was definitely a combination of events that led to my decision to go back,” she continued.

“But as cliché as it may sound, ultimately, I felt a calling to come back; and in the span of about two weeks, I went from saying ‘no’, to wanting it more than ever before.”

Lee-Bentham credits her time as a coach for helping her mature and grow as a person – and as a golfer.

“Ever since I took up the sport at the age of 12, golf has always helped me develop wonderful character traits, such as, being passionate at what you’re doing, working hard, being dedicated, persevering, and striving to be better every single day,” she noted.

“In the past, golf was a love-hate relationship for me as I would sometimes let results get the better of me. But over the past couple of years – as I was teaching the game to others – I’ve grown a lot as a person and in my understanding of how to mentally approach the game. I’ve also learned to plan and practise more efficiently.”

According to Derek Ingram – the former women’s national team head coach, and currently, the men’s national team head coach – it’s easy to understand how teaching the sport to others can reignite Lee-Bentham’s passion and love for the game. Lee-Bentham was a member of Team Canada’s National Team program from 2007-2011 followed by the Young Pro Squad in 2013.

“The last two years will likely give her a much better appreciation for the game and playing professionally,” he noted.

“Being a coach, you start to understand the importance of focusing on one or two key things as opposed to possibly trying to be perfect in too many areas. Being around young people also likely inspired her and motivated her to get back to playing the game she fell in love with,” added Ingram about his former student.

Looking back, winning big tournaments was something young Rebecca was very familiar with.

In 2007, the then 15-year-old won the Ontario Women’s Amateur. In 2010, Lee-Bentham would win the Canadian Junior Girls title.  Then, in the summer of 2011 – after completing her freshman year at the University of Texas – she would capture the Canadian Women’s Amateur title.

Following her victory at the Canadian Women’s Amateur, Lee-Bentham decided to pursue her LPGA Tour card instead of returning to the University of Texas for her sophomore year.  And in December of 2012, she would earn full playing privileges on the LPGA Tour after carding a five-under 67 in the final round of Q-School.

The Longhorn alum had a number of notable highlights in her five year professional career. Lee-Bentham finished in a tie for 18th spot at the 2013 ISPS Handa Women’s Open Australian Open; and later that year, she would record an 11th place finish at the Evian Open.

Also, in 2013, she had the highest earnings of any Canadian woman on the LPGA Tour and was voted by Canadian golf writers as the 2013 Female Professional of the year.

However, nagging injuries and fatigued from the constant grind on Tour would lead to inconsistent results – and eventually, to her decision to retire in 2016.

Ingram says taking time away from competitive golf was the right move for Lee-Bentham.

“It was a good time for Rebecca to recharge and refocus. The grind of playing was getting to her and she was over working – which is not a great combination,” he pointed out.

The Team Canada Olympic coach feels that his former student and amateur standout still has unfinished business as a competitive golfer.

“Rebecca needed to step back and remember why she played the game and what it was all about. I really think with a new perspective and a new vision on why she plays, it will allow her to make much better progress in her game,” said Ingram.

“I personally feel she is a top 60 player in the world or better when she is engaged and practicing the right way,” he added.

After making the decision to return to competitive golf, the Toronto native has already relocated to Irvine, Calif., and has begun her training.

“I will be in California for most of my training. I am aware more than ever of the things I need to work on and am so excited to get back at it. I plan to play in some mini tour events and Monday qualifiers to prepare myself for LPGA Q-School,” she revealed.

“A very good friend owns a golf course here and generously offered a place to play and practice,” Lee-Bentham added. “Also, an amazing family opened up their home to me which is five minutes from the golf course. I have an amazing community here, so it feels like home.”

The former LPGA pro says everyone has been very supportive of her decision.

“My mom literally shed some tears of joy when I first told her about my decision. My family, friends and all of my students showed so much support, which has further motivated me,” she pointed out.

Lee-Bentham also understands the importance of having financial support in terms of making her comeback a truly successful one.

“So far, I’ve been fortunate to have people offer assistance without really having to reach out. Of course, having sponsorship is a huge bonus but it’s something I don’t want to stress about,” she said.

“Acushnet Canada has been wonderful in giving me some of their great products and I’m so thankful for their belief in me.”

At 26, the former LPGA pro feels she’s much wiser. And this time around, she plans to focus on what she can control – and let the rest take care of itself.

“I’m the type of person who goes all in once I’ve committed to something and I’m willing to put in the work,” she said.

“My objective will be to earn my LPGA Tour card again and play for Canada in the Tokyo Olympics. But, just as important, my goal is to give it my best – and to love and enjoy each moment.”

The R&A’s drive to increase the number of women and girls participating in golf and to encourage more opportunities for women to work within the sport has been reflected in early success for the new Women in Golf Charter.

Launched last May in London, the Charter set out to inspire an industry-wide commitment to developing a more inclusive culture within golf globally. It is designed to encourage actions that enable more women and girls to flourish and maximise their potential within the golf industry at all levels.

To date, 107 organisations have given their commitment to the Charter, pledging to build on current initiatives and develop new projects to increase the number of women, girls and families playing golf and becoming members of clubs, as well as giving women wider opportunities to enjoy careers and volunteering in the sport.

These include national federations such as Golf Canada – which held its inaugural Women’s Leadership Summit last year linked to the staging of the CP Women’s Open and enters its sixth year of hosting the World Junior Girls Championship, which welcomes athletes from 19 countries around the world.

Other organisations who have adopted the Charter include the PGA TOUR; the European Tour; the Ladies’ European Tour; the Professional Golfers’ Association; the Golf Foundation; the PGAs of Europe; the European Disabled Golf Association; the ANNIKA Foundation; IMG; VisitScotland and the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Golf.

Mastercard, the official card of The Open, is also the first R&A Patron to sign up. Various other organisations offering their support include the Association of Golf Writers and GOLFNOW.

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “We are encouraged by the number of organisations who have recognised the importance of the Charter for the sport and pledged their support.

“It is a positive start but we need an industry-wide commitment to the Charter and support for measures that will foster a more inclusive culture within the sport and enable women and girls to reach their full potential.”

While achieving the commitment of national federations and organisations was one of the first aims of the Charter, the process for clubs and regional bodies to sign up is also now gathering pace.

Conwy, which will stage the 2020 Curtis Cup in Wales, is the first golf club to sign up to the Charter.

Boldon, based in Tyne & Wear, is the first English club to sign, followed by commitments from Open venues Royal Portrush, St Andrews Links Trust and Carnoustie Golf Links.

Fulford, venue for the Girls Under 16 Amateur Championship, has also committed, along with The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, Blairgowrie, North Berwick and Royal Dornoch.

“Gaining the support of national associations and organisations was the first phase of our plan,” added Slumbers. “We have also worked closely with them to collectively agree a process to support individual clubs in adopting the Charter and gain real momentum.

“The national body is the point of contact and will directly liaise with clubs in determining commitments to the Charter should a club wish to become a signatory.

“We would like national associations, with the involvement of clubs, to set targets for participation and membership as we look to increase the number of women, girls and families playing the sport.”

2018 World Junior Girls Championship (Camelot Golf and Country Club, Cumberland ON)

When Michael Gligic was 13, his mom took him to Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont., and told instructor Sean Foley her son wanted to take the sport more seriously.

More than 15 years later, Foley got great joy out of seeing a fellow Burlington, Ont., native record the greatest triumph of his roller-coaster golf career – making a spot on the PGA Tour next season a very strong possibility.

Gligic, 29, captured the Web.com Tour’s Panama Championship by one shot after shooting a 5-under 65 in the final round on Sunday.

“I’ve been a part of so many wins with players – wins of the U.S. Open or the FedEx Cup and they’re building their legacy – but that win (Sunday) … it’s been a long time since I’ve seen a win that literally could change the trajectory of someone’s life,” said Foley, a former instructor to Tiger Woods who now counts world No. 1 Justin Rose as one of his clients.

“If he has one more top 10, he’s on the PGA TOUR and he has 22 tournaments to get to that number. Mike’s always been focused on making it, and when you’re focused on making it, maybe you just make it. Whereas now the focus should be on what he could do to finish No. 1 on the money list.

“If I said that to him six weeks ago, he might have thought in his heart of hearts (he’d) really not believe he could be, but now he’s just learned something you can’t teach people. When push comes to shove, you can do it.”

Gligic is the fourth Canadian in the last four years to win on the Web.com Tour – the feeder circuit to the PGA TOUR – following Mackenzie Hughes of Hamilton (2016), Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont. (2017), and Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C. (2018). The top 25 at season’s end earn tickets to the PGA Tour, and Gligic – currently second – simply needs to stay consistent to finish in that group.

Hughes, Silverman, and Svensson are now playing on the PGA Tour.

It’s dusty in here ⛳️❤️ pic.twitter.com/fXnE7QMffv

— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) February 11, 2019

But Gligic’s road to the top tour hasn’t been as smooth as some of his fellow Canadians.

He turned professional at 18, forgoing a post-secondary education to chase his golf dreams. He earned his Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada card on his 19th birthday and won his first event four years later.

The win came the year before the Mackenzie Tour was brought under the PGA Tour umbrella, so he spent the next five seasons in Canada with only brief appearances on the Web.com Tour.

A breakthrough came at the end of last year’s Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada season – he was named the Canadian player of the year – and earned a spot in the first eight Web.com Tour events through his position at the final stage of Web.com Tour qualifying school.

Now, all signs point towards Gligic joining the Canadian contingent on the PGA Tour.

“I’ve always known I’ve had it, but there are so many good players in golf,” Gligic said by phone from Panama before flying to Florida for this week’s Web.com Tour event.

“The one thing I get asked a lot is ‘What’s the difference between you and them ? the guys on the PGA Tour?’ My answer has always been the same. You can put the top 50 in the world on their own level, but then you put No. 51 in the world on the driving range with a Mackenzie Tour player, and you can’t tell who is No. 51 or who is on the Mackenzie Tour. I think that’s what has kept me going.”

Gligic grew up playing both hockey and baseball and was a goalie for 12 years. He wanted to be a pro hockey player, but after realizing he wasn’t going to make it (he had dropped baseball at that point), Gligic told his parents he wanted to practise golf indoors instead.

Gligic played only recreationally to that point, but then hooked up with Foley – the former instructor to Tiger Woods who now counts No. 1 Justin Rose as one of his clients.

He went to Florida with Foley, who was just starting his own career, and participated in an elite junior program before turning professional.

Gligic admits he wasn’t a standout junior golfer like Hughes, who is now a winner on the PGA Tour, but worked as hard as he could. He said it was “pretty cool” to have Foley text him Sunday night. Gligic was one of his first notable pupils.

“At the end of the day if you just keep working hard ? I believed it would all work out,” said Gligic.

 

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Lock in the W @mgligicgolf! ?? Another strong week in Canadian #golf this week – swipe for results! ??➡️ – – – #golfstagram #golfcanada #golflife #webtour #golfer

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Although Gligic said he’s had “negative thoughts more than anyone” about not playing golf, he has never given up.

He said he has considered getting a job outside of golf, and has seen friends both move on to the PGA Tour and leave professional golf entirely.

“I’ve always felt like I’ve had the game, but sometimes it doesn’t fall in place and sometimes it does,” he said. “It was one of those things where I forced myself to just keep grinding.”

Foley is excited about Gligic’s future.

“Here’s a (29) year old who is just getting into the prime of his career, and Mike has probably shot 63 or 64 on the Mackenzie Tour more than anyone in the last decade, so I’ve always known his game was there. It was just the opportunity needed to be on the right tour,” Foley said.

“If he didn’t make it to the PGA Tour, I probably would have been disappointed because he’s just that good, really.”

Taylor Pendrith has come to accept that his path to the PGA Tour is going to be longer and have a few more twists and turns than some of his peers.

After two injury-plagued seasons, Pendrith just missed out on earning a card on this season’s Web.com Tour after a disappointing round in the second stage of qualifying school on Nov. 9. He’s vowed to learn from that event and is determined to make the Web.com Tour by the end of 2019, and wants to have a strong showing on Canada’s Mackenzie Tour in the meantime.

“I was trying too hard to make birdies instead of just letting them come naturally,” said Pendrith about the fateful round. “I learned that patience is key. Whether you’re having a good round or a bad round you’re going to get good breaks and you’re going to get bad breaks, that’s just the way golf goes.

“You can’t control it, you can’t control the outcome of anything. It sounds cliche, but you just have to take it one shot at a time.”

The native of Richmond Hill, Ont., is spending his winter in Florida, participating in Monday qualifiers for Web.com Tour events before he begins the Mackenzie Tour season at Vancouver’s Point Grey Golf and Country Club on May 23-26. Nearly making the Web.com Tour in November taught him that he can compete in the higher levels of the professional ranks.

“Stuff happens, it’s all good,” said Pendrith. “I’ve learned that I belong out there. I want to play out there and can compete and win on the Web.com, it just might take a little longer. Some people’s paths are longer, some people’s are right to the Web, to the PGA Tour, and some guys take three, four, or five years.

“It’s all good, I’ve embraced it and I’m just looking forward to it. I have a place to play this year in Canada and I’m excited to get it going and have a really good 2019.”

Pendrith has a clean bill of health after struggling with ongoing wrist issues, a partially torn tendon in his arm and a torn muscle in his palm, that disrupted his 2016 and 2017 seasons. Those injuries were especially hard on Pendrith, who is renowned for his power game.

Pendrith has the full support of Golf Canada, getting named to the 2019 Team Canada Young Pro Squad on Jan. 19. National men’s head coach Derek Ingram feels the sky’s the limit for Pendrith’s potential.

“Taylor’s one of the best prospects to come out of Canada in the last 50 years, quite frankly,” said Ingram. “He’s a unique player in the sense that he hits it so far and he’s quite straight. He’s just a tremendous player.

“If he didn’t get derailed by injuries the past two-plus years I personally think he’d be on the PGA Tour already. It takes time but he’s a tremendous talent and a guy with really good habits.”

As Pendrith waits for the Web.com Tour’s events in the southern United States to begin – the first event is the LECOM Suncoast Classic in Lakewood Ranch, Fla., on Feb. 14 – he’s working on finding consistency on the green.

“I’m going to play in probably six Monday qualifiers basically until the Canadian Tour (Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada) season starts,” said Pendrith. “It would be great to play my way into a tournament and try to have a good finish there. Worst case scenario, Plan B, is to come back and prepare for a great season in Canada.

“My goal this year is to win a tournament, whether it be on the Canadian Tour (Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada) or the Web.com Tour. It would just help me get that winning mindset back.”

The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced local qualifying sites for the 119th U.S. Open Championship. The U.S. Open will be contested at Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links for the sixth time from June 13-16, 2019. Local qualifying, conducted over 18 holes at 110 sites in 43 states and Canada, will take place between April 29-May 13.

“We are grateful for the extensive support of Allied Golf Associations and Golf Canada, in collaboration with the USGA’s five regional offices, during this two-tiered U.S. Open qualifying process,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA senior managing director of Championships. “Thousands of professional and amateur golfers from around the world will pursue an opportunity to compete in our national championship at scenic Pebble Beach Golf Links, which has produced some of the most memorable moments in American golf.”

Local Qualifying will take place in Canada on May 13 at Beacon Hall Golf Club in Aurora, Ont.

Those players who advance out of local qualifying will join a group of exempt players in sectional qualifying, which will be conducted over 36 holes at 12 sites, nine of them in the U.S., one in England, one in Canada and one in Japan. Eight U.S. sites and the Canada and England sites will host sectionals on Monday, June 3. The U.S. qualifier in Texas will be played on May 20, while Japan will host its qualifier on May 27. It will mark the 15th consecutive year that England and Japan have hosted international sectional qualifying.

Canada will host a sectional qualifier for the first time, taking place at RattleSnake Point Golf Club in Milton, Ont., on June 3 leading into the RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf & Country Club.

In 2018, the USGA accepted 9,049 entries for the championship at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, in Southampton, N.Y. The record of 10,127 was established for the 2014 championship at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club’s Course No. 2, in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C.

Fifty-five courses return as U.S. Open local qualifying sites from last year and several have a significant history as hosts. Illini Country Club, in Springfield, Ill., will conduct a U.S. Open qualifier for the 41st consecutive year. Maketewah Country Club, in Cincinnati, Ohio, will be a local site for the 43rd time in the last 44 years. Chris Naegel, who tied for 56th in last year’s U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, and amateur Will Grimmer, who finished 66th, advanced through local qualifying at Illini C.C. and Maketewah C.C., respectively.

Additionally, Riverton (Wyo.) Country Club has hosted local qualifying since 1998, while Collindale Golf Course, in Fort Collins, Colo., has been a host site since 2003. Ironwood Country Club, in Palm Desert, Calif., will hold a local qualifier for the 21st time in the last 22 years.

Five clubs will host U.S. Open local qualifying for the 11th consecutive year. They are: The Club at Admirals Cove (North/West Courses), in Jupiter, Fla.; The Club at Ruby Hill, in Pleasanton, Calif.; Holston Hills Country Club, in Knoxville, Tenn.; La Purisima Golf Course, in Lompoc, Calif.; and Pinewild Country Club (Magnolia Course), in Pinehurst, N.C.

Last year, 21 players advanced through local and sectional qualifying to the 156-player U.S. Open Championship field at Shinnecock Hills. Of those 21, seven players made the 36-hole cut, including co-low amateur Luis Gagne, who started his journey at Orange Tree Golf Club, in Orlando, Fla., which will host a local qualifier for the eighth consecutive year. Ken Venturi (1964) and Orville Moody (1969) are the only players to win the U.S. Open after qualifying through both local and sectional play.

Several U.S. Open champions have advanced to the championship through both local and sectional qualifying at some point in their careers, including Lucas Glover, David Graham, Lou Graham, Hale Irwin, Tony Jacklin, Lee Janzen, Tom Kite, Johnny Miller, Corey Pavin, Curtis Strange, Lee Trevino and Fuzzy Zoeller.

To be eligible, a player must have a Handicap Index® not exceeding 1.4, or be a professional.

There are 14 local qualifying sites in both California and Florida, the most of any state. Texas will host seven local qualifiers, while New York and Pennsylvania each have five.

PANAMA CITY – Canadian Michael Gligic shot a 5-under 65 on Sunday to win the Web.com Tour’s Panama Championship by one stroke.

It was the 29-year-old’s first victory on the Web.com Tour— his first career start at the Panamá Championship. The journeyman has spent years between tours before earning Web.com Tour starts with a T13 finish at the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament last December. Once the results were confirmed, Gligic was overcome with emotion, realizing he had officially won.

“I still can’t really believe it, to be honest. You come to every golf tournament to win and to actually do it is a whole different ball game, and it’s really overwhelming,” Gligic said. “I knew I was right there, and every shot really counted. I gave it my all and fortunately I was good by one shot.”

Gligic, a Burlington, Ont., native who resides in Kitchener, Ont., finished at 8-under 272 at the Panama Golf Club, one shot better than Xinjun Zhang of China.

 

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CHAMP! Congrats on the @WebDotComTour WIN, @MGligicGolf ???? – What a ride ⛳️?? – – – ? @webdotcomtour

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Zhang capped his tournament with a 66.

Gligic had six birdies in Sunday’s final round – including three straight on the ninth, 10th and 11th holes. His only blemish was a bogey on the Par-4 15th.

“I would say the turning point was when I made that really good par putt on seven, which was over a cup outside,” Gligic said. “I’d say that putt kept me going and birdieing 10 and 11 was where it was game on from there.”

After a third-round 67, Gligic was T7 as he began his final round. He sensed that he was near the top of the leaderboard but didn’t know for sure until the round was over.

“Down the stretch I didn’t really know where I stood,” said Gligic. “I’ve been trying not to look at leaderboards or anything. I knew I was close because the cameras were out and people were following.”

Gligic has spent most of his career on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada with this week being his 15^th-career start on the Web.com Tour. He referenced the constant support from his fellow Canadians and Mackenzie Tour counterparts.

“It’s great; it’s always been like that. We’re a pretty tight-knit group and regardless of whether we’re playing the Mackenzie Tour, Web.com Tour or PGA TOUR, everyone’s cheering for each other,” said Gligic. “Everyone wants to see that Canadian flag at the top of the leaderboard and fortunately it was my week this week. Hopefully those boys get it done in the next few weeks here. I think Canada is moving in the right direction and we’re seeing a lot of Canadian flags on all the tours.”

Words from the newly ? champ @MGligicGolf pic.twitter.com/DOugG0Zoiz

— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) February 11, 2019

Carl Yuan (69) of China finished third at 6 under while Britain’s Ben Taylor, who opened the day atop the leaderboard, had two bogeys in his 1-over final round to fall to fourth place at 5 under.

Ottawa’s Brad Fritsch (67) finished in a tie for 19th, Albin Choi (70) of Surrey, B.C., tied for 36th and Mike Weir (70) of Brights Grove, Ont., took a share of 41st place.

Gligic rose six positions in the standings on the final day of the tournament. He took home US$112,500 for winning and earned 500 points in the new Web.com Tour Points system.

He shot a pair of 70’s to open the event on Thursday and Friday but bettered his score with a third-round 67 to climb within striking distance of the lead heading into the final.

“Down the stretch I didn’t really know where I stood,” said Gligic. “I’ve been trying not to look at leaderboards or anything. I knew I was close because the cameras were out and people were following.”

Gligic’s previous best result this season was a tie for 20th at the Bahamas Great Exuma Classic.

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Phil Mickelson had everything go his way Sunday in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

He just couldn’t beat the darkness.

On a wild day of weather even by Pebble Beach standards, sunshine gave way to a hail storm that covered the greens in a sheet of white in a matter of minutes. The delay kept Mickelson from finishing off a remarkable rally in which he turned a three-shot deficit against Paul Casey into a three-shot lead until it was too dark to finish the last two holes.

Mickelson at least wanted to try.

“I can see fine,” he said to a PGA Tour rules official as they walked up the 16th fairway. “I don’t want to put Paul in a bad spot.”

Casey simply couldn’t see, and we realized it was not possible to finish all 18 holes – “We can’t finish two holes in six minutes,” he said to the official – he opted to mark his ball on the 16th green.

Mickelson already made his par on the 16th and was 6 under for the day, with no bogeys on his card, and 18-under par for the tournament. Casey has a 3-foot par putt to stay three shots behind when they return at 8 a.m. Monday to play the par-3 17th and the par-5 18th.

Lost in the late start – one hour delay from rain, a two-hour suspension from hail – was sheer brilliance from the 48-year-old Mickelson who didn’t come remotely close to making a bogey and was on the brink of a fifth victory in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

His first one also was a Monday finish, when players returned in August – more than six months later – to finish the third round of the weather-plagued tournament to make it official.

“We’ve got two tough holes left and I don’t want to jump the gun and get past that,” Mickelson said. “I know a lot can happen in these two holes and they have happened in the past, so I want to stay focused and just come out tomorrow and try to finish it off. I wish we could do it tonight.”

Mickelson made his big run starting with a 9-iron to a foot behind the cup on the par-4 ninth. That was start of a five-hole stretch when Mickelson made three birdies and Paul Casey had two bogeys, taking Lefty from two behind to three ahead.

“I didn’t make anything. I hit some good golf shots and didn’t get anything out of it today,” Casey said. “Phil has put together a spectacular round of golf so far – 6 under, no dropped shots. Remarkable stuff.”

Even as Mickelson strongly hinted at wanting to finish – at point suggesting they play the 17th and he could scoot ahead to get a ball in play on the 18th so at least he could finish – Casey stood his ground.

Casey was at 15 under, tied with Scott Stallings, who closed with a 66. Along with an outside chance at forcing a playoff, finishing alone in second instead of a tie is a difference of $152,000, along with world ranking points and FedEx Cup points. Casey and FedEx executive Don Colleran had a one-shot lead in the pro-am.

Mickelson was standing on the 17th tee when he heard the horn sound to stop play, and he shook his head.

The rest of his day was far better than the weather.

Mickelson is on the verge of winning for the 44th time in his career, and matching Mark O’Meara with five victories at a tournament he first played in 1995.

It also would be his first victory on American soil since the Phoenix Open six years ago. He won the British Open that summer in Scotland, and the Mexico Championship last year.

His brilliant play still shared the stage with weather that was bizarre even by Pebble standards.

Mickelson and Casey were waiting to tee off when clouds moved in quickly moved in, and rain turned into hail that pounded umbrellas, many of them held sideways to account for the wind.

Greens quickly were covered by the tiny white pellets, and workers went from using squeegees for excess water to power blowers to remove the hail.

Sam Saunders, whose grandfather Arnold Palmer was among the Pebble Beach owners, scooped up hail and tossed it like a snowball. Patrick Reed’s brother laid on his back and tried to make a snow angel.

There was never a reasonable chance to finish in his pro-am format, with mostly foursomes across the golf course.

Casey has never won in three previous times he had a 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour, all of them by two shots or more, and he was holding his own against the relentless pursuit of Mickelson, who missed three straight birdie putts from the 12-foot range by the slimmest margins. Casey had great par saves, and then Mickelson took off.

After his 9-iron into a foot at No. 9 to get within one shot, Mickelson holed a 12-foot birdie on the 10th with a drive that hugged the right side of the fairway and likely would have bounced into the ocean if not for conditions so soft from rain that balls plugged where they landed.

Casey blinked first with a bogey on the 11th hole, and another on the par-3 12th when his tee shot came up short and into the bunker. Mickelson poured it on, showing his skills have not deteriorated a bit at age 48, controlling spin beautifully to back pin positions.

He just didn’t want to stay another day.

“I get where Paul is coming from,” Mickelson said. “We’re going to have a good chance to come out on fresh greens. I have good vision, I can see fine and I wanted to continue. In all honesty, it’s a good thing to play the last two holes in fresh conditions.”

Adam Hadwin is currently tied for 18th at 8 under as the top Canadian. Fellow Abbotsford, B.C., native Nick Taylor is T28, while Ben Silverman (Thornhill, Ont.) sits T45.

Some players finished in the dark with no chance of winning, but showed the effect of playing without light. Scott Piercy had a 15-foot putt that was slightly uphill, and he still ran it 7 feet by the hole and three-putted for bogey.

Jason Day closed with a 68 and was tied for fourth at 13-under 175 with Si Woo Kim (68).

BARWON HEADS, Australia – Celine Boutier of France claimed a two-stroke victory in the LPGA’s Vic Open on Sunday while Scotland’s David Law made eagle on the par-5 18th to win the men’s title by a stroke over Australians Brad Kennedy and Wade Ormsby.

Boutier shot a final-round 72 to finish at 8-under 281. Australians Sarah Kemp (65) and Su Oh (74) and England’s Charlotte Thomas (69) were tied for second.

Law’s final-round 66 left him a stroke ahead of Kennedy (67) and third-round leader Ormsby (70) at 18-under 270 on the 13th Beach Golf Links to win his first European Tour tournament.

Canadian Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Ont., closed at 2 under par for a share of 17th place. Anne-Catherine Tanguay of Quebec City was T32 at 1 over par.

The Women’s Australian Open, also sanctioned by the LPGA, will be played next week at The Grange in Adelaide. The men’s European Tour is co-sanctioning the Perth World Super 6 in Western Australia next week.

On the men’s side, Canadian Austin Connelly finished T49 at 5 under par.

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Bill Murray met a pair of baby kangaroos from the Monterey Zoo. Jerry Kelly tried to mimic the peculiar post-swing moves of Ho Sung Choi. Jordan Spieth sent players and fans along two fairways on a frantic search for his tee shot.

All that commotion on celebrity Saturday at Pebble Beach, and Paul Casey missed it all.

He was over at Spyglass Hill, putting together another solid round in the sunshine, rain, cold and wind. Casey had a 5-under 67 and quietly built a three-shot lead over Phil Mickelson going into the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Mickelson delivered plenty of golf entertainment at Pebble Beach, particularly a wedge into 3 feet on the 13th for birdie and a 4-iron he crushed with the wind at his back to 4 feet for an eagle that turned his fortunes, led to a 2-under 70 and put him in good shape for a shot to match Mark O’Meara’s record of five titles at the AT&T Pebble Beach.

“I thought anything in the 60s was going to be a heck of a round, and I was one shy,” Mickelson said. “But I’ve got a good chance going into tomorrow. I’m looking forward to it.”

History might be on Lefty’s side.

Casey, who was at 15-under 200, has never won in his three previous times with a 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour. Those all occurred in the last three years, and while he was beaten by great closing rounds of great players, Casey shot 2-over par or worse.

But that was the least of his concerns.

“I am having a blast,” said Casey, who last year rallied to win the Valspar Championship during the Florida swing.

He made his PGA Tour debut 18 years ago at Pebble Beach, missing the cut with Seth Waugh, now the chief executive of the PGA of America. He played again, and then he didn’t return for 16 years. Part of that was his European Tour membership, with events in the Middle East. Some of it was injury. Some of it was weather.

“There are two factors,” he said. “One is the weather. If you have great weather, this is one of the best places on the planet. And two, if you have the right partner, it can be wonderful. I can at least guarantee one of those elements.”

He is playing with Don Colleran, the chief sales officer at FedEx, and they have a four-shot lead in the pro-am.

The other factor? Not so much.

Saturday began under a blue sky and a sunshine beaming down on the Monterey Peninsula. Those patchy clouds of the horizon were part of a painting. They moved in quickly, dropping temperatures 10 degrees, causing flags to whip and rain to spray.

That’s not what stopped Spieth.

He was tied for the lead after a birdie on the par-3 fifth hole and remained in range of Casey until the final six holes.

His downfall began with a shot on the 13th hole he yanked so badly he figured it was in the bunker on the left side of the ninth fairway. It wasn’t there. The ball in the first cut of rough? That belonged to Adam Scott’s amateur partner. Spieth even went down to the edge of the Pacific to look, and panic began to set in.

“Um, if you all could check around you for a ball, that would be really helpful,” he said.

With under a minute left in the new three-minute search, it was spotted 140 yards back toward the tee beneath a tree it struck.

Spieth made double bogey, and then another double bogey on the 18th hole when he pulled his tee shot off the rocks and into the ocean . He shot a 74 and went from in the hunt to eight shots behind. He didn’t feel he was hiding the ball as well as the first two days, so it was a matter of time.

“It was going to bite me at some point,” Spieth said. “I didn’t necessarily deserve to be a couple under par at the time, and so it ended up kind of haunting me there. … I drove the ball well the last two days, and then today my driver just didn’t behave at all. It was a 150-yard spread on either side and that’s not good around Pebble Beach.”

Lucas Glover had a birdie-bogey finish at Monterey Peninsula for a 1-under 70 and was at 11-under 204, along with Scott Piercy (69 at Spyglass Hill).

Adam Hadwin (65) of Abbotsford, B.C., is the top Canadian at 8 under and tied for 14th.

Nick Taylor (71) of Abbotsford and Ben Silverman (69) from Thornhill, Ont., are 5 under, Mackenzie Hughes (78) of Dundas, Ont., is even, Adam Svensson (72) from Surrey, B.C., and Corey Conners (70) of Listowel, Ont., are 3 over, David Hearn (79) from Brantford, Ont., is 11 over and Roger Sloan (76) of Merritt, Ont., is 13 over.

Casey was recently in the news for a tournament he didn’t play, the Saudi International, a new event on the European Tour that came under scrutiny for Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and the recent killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

He was on the original list of commitments without his approval, and said he was never going. Casey is an ambassador for UNICEF and has the logo on his golf bag, which he displayed on an Instagram post to confirm he was not playing.

“I stand firm on what I said,” Casey said.

He is more interested in what he can accomplish Sunday at a tournament that, with reasonable weather and an enjoyable amateur partner, he has come to enjoy.