DORAL, Fla. — With his best chance at winning a World Golf Championship title, Phil Mickelson broke into a cold sweat and couldn't stop shaking. And this was 18 hours before his tee time.

Once he got onto the Blue Monster, Mickelson looked better than ever.

Weakened and dehydrated by a stomach virus that sent him to the hospital on the eve of the final round, Mickelson closed with seven straight pars for a 3-under 69 to win the CA Championship after a dynamic duel at Doral against Nick Watney.

"It took a lot out of me," said Mickelson, who sipped on energy drinks throughout the round. "I haven't eaten much in three days. I fought hard. I've been playing some of my best golf, and I'm very excited to have finished it off."

No longer the best player without a World Golf Championship, Mickelson now can set his sights on No. 1 in the world.

His second victory in his last three starts moved him to No. 2 in the world, closer than he has ever been to Tiger Woods. Depending on how Woods fares at Bay Hill, Mickelson could have a chance to replace him when he next plays at the Shell Houston Open.

"He's the greatest player of all time. I don't want to go there with the world ranking," Mickelson said. "What I'm excited about is I'm playing some of my best golf."

Mickelson finished at 19-under 269 and earned $1.4 million, the biggest check of his career.

This one-shot victory might have been as impressive as any.

Mickelson had to conserve all his energy for every shot. Watney made sure every shot mattered. There already were seven lead changes when they walked off the 11th green, and then they matched scores the rest of the way.

The finish was familiar to Mickelson, only this one had a happy ending.

Four years ago in another frantic final round on the Blue Monster, he had a chance to force a playoff on the 18th hole and doubled over in shock when his 30-foot chip caught the lip of the cup.

This time, Watney had a 30-foot putt that looked good all the way until it stopped one turn from dropping. Watney, who closed with a 70, pulled his cap over his face in disbelief.

"It looked like it was going in," Mickelson said. "I've been there, man. I know that feeling. It's not a great one."

Woods, in his first stroke-play event since winning the U.S. Open, closed with another 68 to finish eight shots behind in a tie for ninth, but at least kept one streak alive. He has never finished out of the top 10 on the Blue Monster.

"I didn't get anything out of my rounds," Woods said. "I hit the ball a lot better than my scoring indicates."

CHAMPIONS TOUR

FORSMAN WINS FIRST

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. — Dan Forsman won the AT&T Champions Classic yesterday for his first victory in 12 Champions Tour starts, overcoming a five-stroke deficit in regulation and beating Don Pooley with a birdie on the first extra hole. "I'm at a loss for words right now," said the 50-year-old Forsman, a five-time winner on the PGA Tour. "It means so much to win on the Champions Tour." Forsman, five strokes behind Joey Sindelar entering the round, shot a 6-under 66 to match Pooley (70) at 11-under 205. Forsman earned $240,000.

NATIONWIDE TOUR

PRUGH BREAKS THROUGH

QUEENSTOWN, New Zealand — American Alex Prugh won the New Zealand Open yesterday for his first Nationwide Tour title, pulling away to finish three strokes ahead of countryman Martin Piller. Prugh closed with an 8-under 64 for a 19-under 269 total to win $108,000. Piller, the third-round leader, shot a 68.