Mickelson pulls away to win in Houston

Phil Mickelson, the defending Masters champion, outdueled Scott Verplank Sunday to win the Houston Open in Humble, Texas, by three shots, Mickelson's first victory since earning his third green jacket last April.

The win moved Mickelson's world ranking to No. 3, and Tiger Woods dropped to No. 7. It's the first time Mickelson has been ahead of Woods in the rankings since the week before Woods won the 1997 Masters for his first major championship.

"It feels really good for me to have played well and gained some momentum heading into next week," Mickelson said. "I needed to have a week where I kind of put it together."

Mickelson, 40, shot 7-under-par 65 to finish at 20 under. He was 16 under for his final 36 holes, tying the course record with a 63 Saturday, his lowest round in two years.

"I've been saying all year, 'I'm playing well, but I'm not getting the scores out of it, and I'm just kind of having a lapse of focus,' " he said. "It was a great week in that regard, and great for getting momentum heading into next week."

Tour rookie and second-round leader Chris Kirk (67) tied Verplank (68) at 17 under.

Many top players, including Woods and world No. 1 Martin Kaymer sat out this week, but Mickelson saw no disadvantage in coming here and trying to win. Anthony Kim won last year and finished third at the Masters. "I think it's nothing but a plus to be able to gain some momentum," Mickelson said.

Lewis takes Nabisco

Stacy Lewis held off defending champion Yani Tseng to win the Kraft Nabisco Championship in Rancho Mirage, Calif., by three strokes, earning her first LPGA Tour title in the year's first major. Lewis shot 3-under 69 to finish at 13-under 275, rallying from an early two-stroke deficit while going head-to-head with the world's top-ranked player.

Lehman romps

Tom Lehman shot a final-round 69 and pulled away for a four-shot victory over Jeff Sluman, Nick Price and David Frost for his second Champions Tour victory of the season at the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic at Fallen Oak in Saucier, Miss. . . . David Horsey of England hit an ace during his final round, then got a birdie on the second extra hole of a three-way playoff against Rhys Davies and Jaco Van Zyl to win the European Tour's Trophee Hassan II in Agadir, Morocco.-- AP