Taylor edges Mickelson at Pebble Beach

CALIFORNIA — American journeyman Vaughn Taylor ended a PGA Tour title drought of more than a decade with an explosive back nine to clinch a one-shot win over Phil Mickelson at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in California Sunday. Taylor began the final round six strokes off the pace but five birdies after the turn propelled him to a closing seven-under-par 65 at a blustery Pebble Beach Golf Links as he posted a winning total of 17-under 270. Overnight leader Mickelson, seeking his first PGA Tour win since the 2013 British Open, stunningly lipped out a five-foot birdie putt at the last to force a playoff and had to settle for second place after carding a roller-coaster 72. Swede Jonas Blixt, one of four players who held at least a share of the lead in the final round, was a further stroke back in third at 15 under after shooting a 69. “It’s been a long time and I didn’t think it was going to happen,” an emotional Taylor, 39, told CBS Sports after clinching his first PGA Tour win since the 2005 Reno-Tahoe Open, and his third overall. “I’ve worked so hard and just kept getting knocked down and knocked down,” said Taylor, who has not played a full season on the PGA Tour since 2012 while bouncing between it and the satellite Web.com tour over the past three seasons. Taylor had moved into a share of the lead for the first time with a tap-in birdie at the 15th, then drained a 28-footer at the par-four 16th to edge one ahead before clinching the winner’s check for $1.26 million. Mickelson, a four-time champion at Pebble Beach, struggled with his iron play for much of the day and needed to finish birdie-birdie to force a playoff after sinking a clutch par putt from 12 feet at the 16th. He made the first of them, rolling in a tricky 13-footer from the back of the green at the par-three 17th, but lipped out for birdie from short range at the par-five 18th just when he seemed headed for a playoff. Langer wins Classic In Florida, neither age nor a new putting style has caught up with Bernhard Langer. And this weekend, neither did his PGA Tour Champions foes. Langer won the Chubb Classic Sunday for his 26th Champions Tour title, closing with a 1-over 73 for a three-stroke victory. Seven strokes ahead after opening with rounds of 62 and 66, the 58-year-old German star finished at 15 under 201 at TwinEagles. He also won in 2011 and 2013, was second in 2012 and tied for second in 2014. Fred Couples had a 66 to finish second. Langer completed his sixth wire-to-wire triumph. He’s second on the 50-and-over tour’s victory list, behind Hale Irwin (45) and Lee Trevino (29). — Agencies