Abu Dhabi: Larrazabal Beats Rules Maven Rory, Righty Phil

Pablo Larrazabal outlasted Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson by a shot in the HSBC. And while it's a nice win for the third year Spaniard, naturally most of the attention will be on Rory and Phil who kicked off the year in excellent form.

I'm waiting to see what the on-site writers file, but Steve Elling's item quoting on Rory ruing what might have been doesn't bode well for him learning from Saturday's rules mistake.

“I guess I’m standing here, thinking that I played one shot less than anyone else this week, but ended up not getting a trophy,” he said.

Mickelson was undone by a triple on 13 but still had a chance right to the end. The damage was done when he tried to play a shot from the bushes right-handed, double-hitting the shot.

Steve Elling with Phil's post round reaction.

Asked the last time he double-hit a shot, Mickelson thought for a few moments, then laughed.

“I don’t remember, but I am sure I have done it, because I have done a lot of crazy [stuff],” he said, grinning.

Mickelson sat alongside McIlroy at the trophy presentation, laughing and cracking jokes. He has developed a thick skin with regard to tournaments that have slipped through his fingers.

Indeed, the crazy manner in which Mickelson lost it likely will be remembered more vividly than how Larrazabal hung on to win.

When it was noted that his entertainment value remains second to none, Mickelson took it as the compliment it was intended to be.

“I enjoy playing golf,” he said. “I enjoy challenging myself to hit shots, and sometimes I pull them off, and sometimes I don’t.

“This week, I had a little bit of both.”

The video: