Mickelson goes long in stadium shot, raises $50K

[October 16, 2012]  SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Stadium golf took on a new meaning for Phil Mickelson, who overshot the big money targets on his 100-yard shot at halftime of Monday night's Broncos-Chargers game. He still raised $50,000 for First Book, a nonprofit organization that provides new books for needy children.

Had he hit one of the concentric rings in the middle of the green in the "KPMG Chip4Charity" promotion, Mickelson could have raised anywhere from $100,000 to $1 million for the charity.

As it is, the $50,000 will buy 20,000 books.

Mickelson took his wedge shot from one end zone at Qualcomm Stadium. The target green was in the other end zone.

The crowd responded with a mixture of boos and cheers when Lefty's shot missed the circles.

"I must have had a little bit more adrenaline because the ball was a little bit long. I thought I hit a pretty good shot but it flew long," Mickelson said.

Still, he had a good time.

"I haven't had this experience. This is an amazing experience. In golf, we don't get this," he said. "The 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale has nothing on this. This was awesome, seeing the Jumbotron with my picture, as I'm looking up taking the shot, that was unique. That was something that was pretty cool."

Meanwhile, it sounds like Mickelson is getting close to becoming an investor with the group that bought the San Diego Padres in August.

"It looks pretty promising and hopefully here in the next few days we'll have something to announce," said Mickelson, who is from San Diego. "I think we're getting it worked out."

[Associated Press; By BERNIE WILSON]

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