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Phil Mickelson stuns golf world with putt from 78 yards

Phil Mickelson (pictured left) attempts a 78-yard putt at the Memorial Tournament and looking confused (pictured right).
Phil Mickelson (pictured left) attempted an audacious 78-yard putt at the Memorial Tournament, which didn't go to plan. (Images: PGA Tour/Getty Images)

Phil Mickelson has stunned fans at the Memorial Tournament PGA event after deciding to putt from 78 yards out, before going back to chipping the ball from 34 feet.

The Memorial tournament has been a difficult week for many golfers, but Spaniard Jon Rahm became the No.1 golfer in the world by winning the PGA Tournament on Sunday.

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While fans were lauding Rahm’s incredible consistency, many were glued to the TV to check out Mickelson’s audacious efforts.

Mickelson, nicknamed ‘Lefty’, was facing a 78-yard approach shot on the 13th but opted for the unconventional route of putting it.

The putt, however, fell drastically short and Mickelson said: “I saw that playing out differently in my mind.”

After the shot, he then took a full swing from just 38 yards out, which fell agonisingly short.

“The fairway prior to the green was pitched more severely right to left, and if I used that slope it was going to angle and get the ball working over to the left pin and possibly get close, whereas if I hit a wedge shot and flew it on to the front edge or just short, it wasn't using that extra pitch or contour to get the ball over to the left,” Mickelson said.

“I didn't hit it hard enough, but if I had hit that hard enough, I think that ball could have gotten close to the hole to a tap-in, whereas a wedge I didn't see that being possible.”

Rahm becomes World No.1 golfer

Rahm became just the second Spaniard to reach World No.1 in golf on the weekend, after a thrilling tournament.

He had an eight-shot lead at the turn shrink to three shots with three holes to play before he hit what he called "one of the greatest shots of my life" that turned into a bogey because of a penalty.

All that mattered was that fist bump - not a handshake - with Jack Nicklaus, and taking his place alongside his idol Seve Ballesteros as the only Spaniards to reach the rankings summit in world golf.

Jon Rahm celebrates with the winner's trophy with Jack Nicklaus.
Jon Rahm of Spain celebrates with the winner's trophy with Jack Nicklaus after winning the final round of the Memorial Tournament.

With a two-shot penalty for his ball moving the length of a dimple on his chip-in behind the 16th green, Rahm closed with 3-over 75 to end the week at 9-under 279 and a three-shot winner over Ryan Palmer (74).

Rahm got up-and-down on the final four greens, which made his fourth PGA Tour title and 10th professional victory feel even sweeter.

"I'm incredibly proud to sit here and be the Memorial tournament champion, win an event on the PGA Tour four years in a row, No.1 one in the world," the 25-year-old said.

"There's a lot of accomplishments today that are hard to believe I've done so early in my career."

With AAP