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Farmers Insurance Open
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 Ben Crane made par on the par-5 18th hole to clinch his third career PGA Tour title. MORE PHOTOS FROM FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN SAN DIEGO—Ben Crane may not have the name recognition of Phil Mickelson or Rickie Fowler, but he earned the one title that matters most at the PGA Tour’s Farmers Insurance Open — champion. The 33-year-old Crane shot a 2-under-par 70 in Sunday’s final round on the South course at Torrey Pines to post a 13-under total and win by a stroke over Marc Leishman, Brandt Snedeker and Michael Sim. Citing his focus on God and a strong plan he developed with his support staff in the offseason, Crane was buoyed by a pair of 40-foot-plus birdie conversions on the par-3 third and 11th holes. He withstood missed par putts on the 13th and 17th holes to hang on for his third Tour title. “Winning is really a byproduct of me setting out to run my process that we’ve determind is best for me and honor God,” said Crane. “[I was] working so hard with my caddie coming down the last few holes just to not get involved in score and outcome and all that. It was a grind.” Crane worked so hard on his narrow focus that when his clinching par putt fell on the par-5 18th hole he didn’t initially realize he’d won. “Actually, the first person that told me was [playing partner] Ryuji [Imada],” Crane recalled. “He goes, ‘Congratulations.’ And I go, ‘Did I win?’” Crane earned a $954,000 winner’s check, giving him $11,723,027 in career earnings. For most of his career he’s been known as one of the most deliberate professional golfers — in the final round of the 2005 Booz Allen Classic, his slow play so thoroughly bothered playing partner Rory Sabbatini that Sabbatini decided to reach the 17th green before Crane even hit his approach shot. Last December, Crane was in the news for calling Tiger Woods a “phony and a fake,” in Life & Style magazine. That comment proved to be phony, as Crane denied ever making the statement. “Being in the news a month ago was bizarre,” he said. “It’s obviously good to be [in the news] on a good note.” Throughout the day, most eyes were focused on Mickelson, the hometown hero trying to start his 2010 season with a bang, and Fowler, the local prodigy looking to break through with win No. 1. They were paired together in the third-to-last group, four shots behind 54-hole leader Imada. While Fowler charged into contention with three birdies on the front nine, including a 25-foot putt on the long par-4 fourth, Mickelson faltered immediately with four bogeys in his first seven holes. Fowler, the 21-year-old Murrieta native, could creep no closer to the lead than two shots, and any title hopes he had ended with a double bogey on the par-4 17th hole thanks to a pushed approach shot and subsequent chipping troubles. He shot his third consecutive 70 on the South and finished tied for fifth at 11-under par, his best PGA Tour finish since losing in a playoff at last year’s Frys.com Open. “I got off to a good start, [had] good lag putts to save some pars and finally made a good birdie on No. 4, not a typical birdie hole, so that kind of got the round jumpstarted,” said Fowler. “I played fairly solid from there and just made one rough swing on 17 that cost me a couple. “I got a top 10, so nice way to start the year.” San Diego’s Mickelson, on the other hand, settled for a 1-over 73 and ended up in 19th place at 8-under par. “I had a good warm-up session,” said Mickelson, whose swing coach Butch Harmon flew in overnight for assistance. “I felt like it was going to be a good day. I got off to a terrible start, and then throughout the round didn’t get much out of it.” This marked the first time Fowler and Mickelson played together at a PGA Tour event, but they have played together outside the Tour and were chummy throughout the round, often chatting while strolling the fairways on the front nine. “I had a lot of fun,” Fowler said of playing with Mickelson. “I’ve known Phil for a bit [and] know his brother [Tim] really, really well from amateur golf from him being a coach at USD. I’ve actually had Phil up to Bear Creek [Golf Club in Murrieta] to play a skins game with me.” Said Mickelson of Fowler: “What a great asset to the Tour this guy is. He’s a great player, but really a fun guy to be around, and I think he’s going to really enhance the game of golf.” Both Mickelson and Fowler will play in next week’s Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades. Mickelson is the two-time defending champion, while Fowler has never participated in the event. Here’s how other Southern Californians fared at the Farmers Insurance Open: • First-round leader Scott Piercy closed with a 3-under-par 69 on the South course after struggling there with rounds of 75-73 Friday and Saturday. The former San Diego State men’s golfer tied for 20th at 7-under. • Orange native Hunter Mahan shot his third even-par 72 on the South course Sunday. His 5-under-par 67 on the North course Friday propelled him to a 5-under finish and in a tie for 27th. • Poway native Bill Lunde closed with a 3-under 69 and climbed 24 spots up the leaderboard into a tie for 33rd at 4-under par. • North Hills resident Charlie Wi struggled on the weekend with rounds of 73-75 and ended up tied for 37th at 3-under par. • Torrance native Chris Tidland and Murrieta resident Tom Pernice Jr. began the weekend in contention but limped to the finish — Pernice closed with 74-76 and Tidland mustered 75-76. Both were in a six-way tie for 48th at 1-under. For a complete leaderboard, visit PGATour.com. Visit this week for coverage of the Northern Trust Open. ALSO SEE: Imada in control after three rounds of Farmers Insurance Open Grooves, Daly overshadow second round of Farmers Insurance Open Piercy shoots 64 in first round to lead Farmers Insurance Open |
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