• Quail Hollow Championship

Mickelson happy to lose to McIlroy

Phil Mickelson was happy with his runner-up performance © Getty Images

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Quail Hollow Championship runner-up Phil Mickelson hailed Rory McIlroy's sensational course-record final round as "one of the best" and conceded he had to be happy to settle for second behind the 20-year-old from Northern Ireland.

World No. 2 Mickelson admitted he was satisfied with his 11-under final score which, on another day, might have been enough to win on a challenging course Mickelson criticised for its green designs.

Just two days short of his 21st birthday and three years after turning pro, McIlroy announced his arrival on golf's biggest stage by becoming the youngest man since Tiger Woods to claim a PGA Tour title on Sunday as his unbelievable round of 62 earned him a four-stroke victory.

Mickelson was within range of McIlroy with four holes to play and he may have held a quiet hope the youngster would crumble under the pressure as the finish line neared, but McIlroy turned on the afterburners with an eagle at the 15th and never looked back.

Mickelson told AP: "I thought 11-under would have been a good score to post because the course was pretty challenging. But 62 is one of the best rounds I've seen in a long, long time. I saw that he had eagled 15 and had started to pull away. For him to win on the PGA Tour before his 21st birthday, I think it just sets his career off. I'm happy for him that he was able to put together this great round. I'm sorry it was at my expense."

Mickelson said he was happy with his personal form in his first tournament since winning the green jacket at the Masters.

"I think after coming off such a great high as Augusta and taking a couple weeks off, you're never really sure where your game's going to be," Mickelson said. "For me to play solid, get into contention and have a fun, good week, gives me some momentum."

But Mickelson didn't have such kind words for the layout of the greens at Quail Hollow, saying they "are some of the worst designed greens that we have on the tour". Mickelson told his caddy to leave the flag in the hole at the 18th since he felt the hole position didn't allow for a viable attempt at sinking his putt.

"I would say 18 is the worst on this tour, but it's not (even) the worst on this golf course. Twelve is, and we have some ridiculous putts here."

Quail Hollow Club president Johnny Harris said he appreciated Mickelson's honest feedback and that he would soon meet with the four-time Major winner, who has committed to returning to the event.

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