Chopra misses top-10, Atwal ends tied 36th as Mickelson rules roost

Pebble Beach, Ca., Feb 12 (UNI) Daniel Chopra missed a top-10 finish by a stroke after carding a two-under 70 final round for a tied 11th spot while Arjun Atwal, struggling with his putting, played a second successive 71 to end up taking tied 36th place in the 5.5 million dollar Pebble Beach National Pro-Am event here.

Chopra mixed three birdies with a bogey yesterday to take his four-day aggregate to nine-under 279. A 10th tee starter, Atwal also fired as many birdies but dropped a stroke more as he totalled four-under 284. The Florida-based Indian could be anything but satisfied with his position after he shot into contention with a five-under 67 opening round.

Meanwhile, those anticipating an exciting finish were left disappointed as overnight joint leader Phil Mickelson overcame a double bogey to fire a supreb six-under 66 and clinch the issue with a whopping five-stroke margin over second placed Kevin Sutherland (71). The stylish southpaw accumulated 20-under 268 to claim the winner's purse of 990,000 dollars and take his career earnings to over 40 million dollars.

John Mallinger carded a 71 to take a sole third place. World No 2 Jim Furyk recovered from yesterday's disastrous five-over 76 and played a 69 for tied 6th spot while former No 1 Vijay Singh also carded an identical round to share tied 11th with, among others, Chopra.

UNI