Waste Management Phoenix Open: Phil Mickelson completes victory at TPC Scottsdale

The left-hander, whose putt for a 59 had horseshoed out in a spectacular opening round, couldn't reproduce the fireworks of the first three days (60-65-64) but his closing round of four-under secured a 41st PGA Tour title and matched Mark Calcavecchia's tournament scoring record of 28-under, 256.

Mickelson made a shaky start to his final round with a bogey at two and by the turn nearest rival Snedeker had cut his six-shot overnight lead in half.

It could have been even closer but Mickelson holed for birdie from 30 feet at the par three fourth and then drained an outrageous 56 footer for birdie at the short seventh, his ball travelling through the fringe before rattling into the back of the hole.

Snedeker matched Mickelson's two at seven and when he knocked in another birdie at nine to cut the gap to three, last year's FedEx Cup winner gave the impression he could hole from anywhere.

However, Snedeker stalled on the back nine and five straight pars allowed Mickelson to increase his lead to four shots again after a two-putt birdie on 13.

The pair traded birdies at the par five 15th and Snedeker reduced the deficit to three again after hitting a superb tee-shot at the rowdy stadium hole 16th which he holed for a two from just five feet.

There was one final scare for Mickelson when his tee-shot at the driveable par four 17th stopped a yard from the water to the left of the green but he got up and down for another birdie to maintain his three-shot lead.