Sam Burns captured the biggest title of his career by winning the WGC Match Play Championship on Sunday, routing Cameron Young 6&amp;5 in an all-American final.

World number 15 Burns took a $3.5 million top prize at Austin Country Club in Texas by making eight birdies in the last 10 holes to dispatch 17th-ranked Young, last year's British Open runner-up.

"What a week. Man, I'm so tired," Burns said. "It was fun playing Cam. I know he didn't have his best stuff."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/golf-celine-boutier-wins-lpga-drive-on-championship-title-576056">Celine Boutier wins LPGA Drive On Championship title</a>

It was the fifth career PGA title for Burns, who won all seven of his matches to become the first player to capture the WGC Match Play in his debut since Australian Geoff Ogilvy in 2006.

"I just tried to stack one good swing after another," Burns said. "Really have tried to put the hard work in and it's nice to see it paying off on the golf course."

Burns dethroned top-ranked defending champion Scottie Scheffler in 21 holes in morning semi-finals while Young, last year's PGA Rookie of the Year, ousted third-ranked Rory McIlroy in 19 holes.

"Felt like I found something this morning at the end of my match with Scottie and kind of was able to carry that on this afternoon," Burns said.

"It's huge. I haven't played my best golf the past couple months and was really struggling with my swing the past couple weeks."

Young, who chased his first PGA victory, settled for his sixth runner-up showing.

"Frustrating to lose today," Young said. "Out here you have to make a bunch of birdies and I just didn't quite do it."

In the final, Young won the second hole with a five-foot birdie putt but Burns dropped his approach inches from the hole for a birdie to claim the fifth and pull level.

Burns nearly holed out from 45 yards and birdied to win the par-5 sixth then took the par-3 seventh when Young missed a six-foot par putt and captured his fourth consecutive hole with a 20-foot birdie putt at the eighth, seizing a 3-up advantage.

Burns sank a 12-foot birdie putt to win the 10th for a 4-up lead and made a 24-foot birdie putt at the par-3 11th, although Young tied the hole with a 22-foot birdie putt.

Young found water to lose the par-5 12th and fall 5-down then plunked his ball into water shy of the 13th green and moments later surrendered the match.

<h2>McIlroy takes third</h2>

McIlroy, who will overtake Spain's Jon Rahm to become world number two, led after every hole in defeating top-ranked Scheffler 2&amp;1 in the third-place match to claim bragging rights ahead of the Masters in two weeks at Augusta National.

"It's nice to walk away with a win after the disappointment of this morning not being able to put Cam away," McIlroy said.

"Overall it has been a really good week, something to really build on going into Augusta."

McIlroy can complete a career Grand Slam with a Masters triumph.

"I feel a lot better about things compared to two weeks ago (after missing the cut) at the Players Championship," he said. "All eyes on Augusta and just making sure the game is ready but everything feels in really good order."

Four-time major winner McIlroy, the 2015 WGC Match Play champion from Northern Ireland, and reigning Masters champion Scheffler, who won the Players Championship earlier this month, each stumbled late in the semis.

McIlroy was 2 up with three holes to play but Young birdied to win the par-5 16th, birdied 18 to equalize and birdied the par-5 12th from nine feet to win the match.

Scheffler birdied 18 to force extra holes, missed a four-foot birdie putt for the match at the second extra hole and Burns sank a 14-foot birdie putt at the next to advance.

It's a bit frustrating," Scheffler said. "But I put up a good fight."

Sam Burns captured the biggest title of his career by winning the WGC Match Play Championship on Sunday, routing Cameron Young 6&5 in an all-American final. World number 15 Burns took a $3.

Sam Burns captured the biggest title of his career by winning the WGC Match Play Championship on Sunday, routing Cameron Young 6&5 in an all-American final. World number 15 Burns took a $3.5 million top prize at Austin Country Club in Texas by making eight birdies in the last 10 holes to dispatch 17th-ranked Young, last year's British Open runner-up. "What a week. Man, I'm so tired," Burns said. "It was fun playing Cam. I know he didn't have his best stuff." Also Read: Celine Boutier wins LPGA Drive On Championship title It was the fifth career PGA title for Burns, who won all seven of his matches to become the first player to capture the WGC Match Play in his debut since Australian Geoff Ogilvy in 2006. "I just tried to stack one good swing after another," Burns said. "Really have tried to put the hard work in and it's nice to see it paying off on the golf course." Burns dethroned top-ranked defending champion Scottie Scheffler in 21 holes in morning semi-finals while Young, last year's PGA Rookie of the Year, ousted third-ranked Rory McIlroy in 19 holes. "Felt like I found something this morning at the end of my match with Scottie and kind of was able to carry that on this afternoon," Burns said. "It's huge. I haven't played my best golf the past couple months and was really struggling with my swing the past couple weeks." Young, who chased his first PGA victory, settled for his sixth runner-up showing. "Frustrating to lose today," Young said. "Out here you have to make a bunch of birdies and I just didn't quite do it." In the final, Young won the second hole with a five-foot birdie putt but Burns dropped his approach inches from the hole for a birdie to claim the fifth and pull level. Burns nearly holed out from 45 yards and birdied to win the par-5 sixth then took the par-3 seventh when Young missed a six-foot par putt and captured his fourth consecutive hole with a 20-foot birdie putt at the eighth, seizing a 3-up advantage. Burns sank a 12-foot birdie putt to win the 10th for a 4-up lead and made a 24-foot birdie putt at the par-3 11th, although Young tied the hole with a 22-foot birdie putt. Young found water to lose the par-5 12th and fall 5-down then plunked his ball into water shy of the 13th green and moments later surrendered the match. McIlroy takes third McIlroy, who will overtake Spain's Jon Rahm to become world number two, led after every hole in defeating top-ranked Scheffler 2&1 in the third-place match to claim bragging rights ahead of the Masters in two weeks at Augusta National. "It's nice to walk away with a win after the disappointment of this morning not being able to put Cam away," McIlroy said. "Overall it has been a really good week, something to really build on going into Augusta." McIlroy can complete a career Grand Slam with a Masters triumph. "I feel a lot better about things compared to two weeks ago (after missing the cut) at the Players Championship," he said. "All eyes on Augusta and just making sure the game is ready but everything feels in really good order." Four-time major winner McIlroy, the 2015 WGC Match Play champion from Northern Ireland, and reigning Masters champion Scheffler, who won the Players Championship earlier this month, each stumbled late in the semis. McIlroy was 2 up with three holes to play but Young birdied to win the par-5 16th, birdied 18 to equalize and birdied the par-5 12th from nine feet to win the match. Scheffler birdied 18 to force extra holes, missed a four-foot birdie putt for the match at the second extra hole and Burns sank a 14-foot birdie putt at the next to advance. It's a bit frustrating," Scheffler said. "But I put up a good fight."

Golf: Sam Burns wins WGC Match Play Championship in all-American final

Five-time major winner Phil Mickelson seized his first title in nearly five years on Sunday as he edged Justin Thomas in a playoff to win the WGC Mexico Championship.

Mickelson, who hadn&#39;t won since his victory at the Open Championship at Muirfield in 2013, parred the first playoff hole, the par-three 17th at Club de Golf Chapultepec, where Thomas missed the green and was unable to get up and down for par.

&quot;It&#39;s been a tough go the last four years, not playing my best,&quot; Mickelson said. &quot;But to have the belief that I was going to get there and finally break through and do it feels incredible.

&quot;I feel that more is to come,&quot; added the 47-year-old. &quot;I`m starting play some of my best golf.&quot;

The 24-year-old Thomas, one of the hottest young stars in golf and the reigning US PGA Tour Player of the Year, was coming off a victory at the Honda Classic last week.

He made six birdies and holed out from the fairway for an eagle at the 18th for a closing seven-under 64 that put him atop the leaderboard on 16-under 268.

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Your <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WGCMexico?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WGCMexico</a> champ speaks to the media <a href="https://t.co/mQJQ8zf6un">https://t.co/mQJQ8zf6un</a>
&mdash; Mexico Championship (@WGCMexico) <a href="https://twitter.com/WGCMexico/status/970449184120811520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&quot;PHIL PHIL PHIL!&quot; 
 
Phil Mickelson claims his first ???? in almost five years! Congrats on the <a href="https://twitter.com/WGCMexico?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WGCMexico</a> victory. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QuickHits?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QuickHits</a> <a href="https://t.co/Np8p59IqPc">pic.twitter.com/Np8p59IqPc</a>
&mdash; PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) <a href="https://twitter.com/PGATOUR/status/970439036186722306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2018</a></blockquote>
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With Thomas in the clubhouse with a two-stroke lead, Mickelson birdied 15 and 16 to reach 16-under and parred the last two holes to cap a 66 and force the decider.

England&#39;s Tyrrell Hatton was 16-under through 17 holes but bogeyed the last to miss the playoff.

His 67 left him tied for third on 269 with Spain`s Rafa Cabrera Bello (67).

Mickelson, whose drought stretched over 101 worldwide starts, had sounded a confident note when he finished the third round two shots off the 54-hole lead of India&#39;s Shubhankar Sharma.

He opened with back-to-back birdies, and after a three-putt bogey at the third birdied the fourth and sixth, adding another birdie at the 10th to hold sole possession of the lead on 15-under.

He gave a stroke back at the 11th, however, where his second shot ended up in the undergrowth between ivy-covered trees.When Thomas produced his finishing eagle it looked like, once again, Mickelson would miss out on a trip to the winner`s circle.

But a birdie at the par-five 15th and a birdie at 16 -- where he rolled in a 19-foot putt -- kept his chances alive.

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WOW. 
 
Phil Mickelson gets his first win in 5 years. Here&#39;s your 2018 Mexico Championship winner ???????? <a href="https://t.co/XLNP2cS3iO">pic.twitter.com/XLNP2cS3iO</a>
&mdash; Mexico Championship (@WGCMexico) <a href="https://twitter.com/WGCMexico/status/970441085314125824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&quot;It just validates the hard work I&#39;ve put in and the struggle for the last few years to finally get my game back,&quot; Mickelson said.

He admitted he was nervous teeing off in the last group -- but said he welcomed the butterflies.

&quot;The thing about it is, I love the challenge,&quot; Mickelson said. &quot;To have something like this today makes it all worthwhile.&quot;

Although he won last week, Thomas got off to a rocky start at Chapultepec and was even through two rounds.

He roared up the leaderboard with a course-record 62 on Saturday.

&quot;If you would have told me I would have been in a playoff after two rounds, I would have told you were lying,&quot; said Thomas, whose five wins last season included his first major title at the PGA Championship.

&quot;But I played unbelievable golf these last two days. I&#39;m probably more proud of myself than I&#39;ve ever been. It takes a lot of patience and calmness to stay in it as much as I did.&quot;

Mickelson was also impressed with Thomas&#39;s weekend.

&quot;If you look at what Justin Thomas did this weekend, shooting 16-under on this golf course over two days -- just incredible,&quot; Mickelson said.

&quot;I know and respect and admire how great these young players are, and yet I welcome and cherish the opportunity to compete against them.&quot;

The unexpected youngster who dominated the headlines on Friday and Saturday, Sharma, just couldn&#39;t maintain his momentum on Sunday.

The 21-year-old who had shot to 75th in the world with two European Tour wins this season was trying to win in his first World Golf Championships start.

But he closed with a three-over 74 that included five bogeys and just two birdies and left him tied for ninth, six shots adrift. 
 
 
&nbsp;

India's Shubhankar Sharma, who had shot to 75th in the world with two European Tour wins this season is the runner-up

Five-time major winner Phil Mickelson seized his first title in nearly five years on Sunday as he edged Justin Thomas in a playoff to win the WGC Mexico Championship. Mickelson, who hadn't won since his victory at the Open Championship at Muirfield in 2013, parred the first playoff hole, the par-three 17th at Club de Golf Chapultepec, where Thomas missed the green and was unable to get up and down for par. "It's been a tough go the last four years, not playing my best," Mickelson said. "But to have the belief that I was going to get there and finally break through and do it feels incredible. "I feel that more is to come," added the 47-year-old. "I`m starting play some of my best golf." The 24-year-old Thomas, one of the hottest young stars in golf and the reigning US PGA Tour Player of the Year, was coming off a victory at the Honda Classic last week. He made six birdies and holed out from the fairway for an eagle at the 18th for a closing seven-under 64 that put him atop the leaderboard on 16-under 268. Your #WGCMexico champ speaks to the media https://t.co/mQJQ8zf6un — Mexico Championship (@WGCMexico) March 5, 2018 × "PHIL PHIL PHIL!" Phil Mickelson claims his first ???? in almost five years! Congrats on the @WGCMexico victory. #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/Np8p59IqPc — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 4, 2018 × With Thomas in the clubhouse with a two-stroke lead, Mickelson birdied 15 and 16 to reach 16-under and parred the last two holes to cap a 66 and force the decider. England's Tyrrell Hatton was 16-under through 17 holes but bogeyed the last to miss the playoff. His 67 left him tied for third on 269 with Spain`s Rafa Cabrera Bello (67). Mickelson, whose drought stretched over 101 worldwide starts, had sounded a confident note when he finished the third round two shots off the 54-hole lead of India's Shubhankar Sharma. He opened with back-to-back birdies, and after a three-putt bogey at the third birdied the fourth and sixth, adding another birdie at the 10th to hold sole possession of the lead on 15-under. He gave a stroke back at the 11th, however, where his second shot ended up in the undergrowth between ivy-covered trees.When Thomas produced his finishing eagle it looked like, once again, Mickelson would miss out on a trip to the winner`s circle. But a birdie at the par-five 15th and a birdie at 16 -- where he rolled in a 19-foot putt -- kept his chances alive. WOW. Phil Mickelson gets his first win in 5 years. Here's your 2018 Mexico Championship winner ???????? pic.twitter.com/XLNP2cS3iO — Mexico Championship (@WGCMexico) March 4, 2018 × "It just validates the hard work I've put in and the struggle for the last few years to finally get my game back," Mickelson said. He admitted he was nervous teeing off in the last group -- but said he welcomed the butterflies. "The thing about it is, I love the challenge," Mickelson said. "To have something like this today makes it all worthwhile." Although he won last week, Thomas got off to a rocky start at Chapultepec and was even through two rounds. He roared up the leaderboard with a course-record 62 on Saturday. "If you would have told me I would have been in a playoff after two rounds, I would have told you were lying," said Thomas, whose five wins last season included his first major title at the PGA Championship. "But I played unbelievable golf these last two days. I'm probably more proud of myself than I've ever been. It takes a lot of patience and calmness to stay in it as much as I did." Mickelson was also impressed with Thomas's weekend. "If you look at what Justin Thomas did this weekend, shooting 16-under on this golf course over two days -- just incredible," Mickelson said. "I know and respect and admire how great these young players are, and yet I welcome and cherish the opportunity to compete against them." The unexpected youngster who dominated the headlines on Friday and Saturday, Sharma, just couldn't maintain his momentum on Sunday. The 21-year-old who had shot to 75th in the world with two European Tour wins this season was trying to win in his first World Golf Championships start. But he closed with a three-over 74 that included five bogeys and just two birdies and left him tied for ninth, six shots adrift.

Golf: Phil Mickelson wins WGC Mexico

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Golf: Sam Burns wins WGC Match Play Championship in all-American final

Golf: Phil Mickelson wins WGC Mexico