Mickelson fails to catch Woods on way home

PHIL MICKELSON must be beginning to think that he is cursed in his bid to overtake Tiger Woods in the world rankings for the first time since April 1997.

The left-hander has had umpteen opportunities to trump his great rival over the past year but has failed every time. He blew another chance last night in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.

Ranked sixth in the world after going winless since last year’s Masters victory, Mickelson only had to finish ahead of fifth-ranked Woods on the leaderboard to edge ahead of his great rival for the first time in 14 years.