Phil Mickelson misses shot at $1 million dollar target

All that stood between $1 million and Phil Mickelson was 100 yards.

Unfortunately, he went long.

Teaming with his corporate sponsor KPMG, Mickelson took dead aim from one end zone during the halftime intermission of the San Diego Chargers-Denver Broncos Monday Night Football game. At stake was as much as $1 million for First Book, a non-profit organization which provides new books for children in need. Mickelson was set up in one end zone, aiming for a target in the other end zone. Mickelson knocked his shot long but will still earn $50,000 to buy 20,000 books.

Mickelson, using a 56-degree wedge, needed to land his shot within 5 feet of the hole to win $1 million. According to the PGA Tour, Mickelson has hit 13.5% of his approach shots from 95-105 yards to inside 5 feet since 2003.

The hometown Mickelson is a season ticketholder to the Chargers who recently bought a stake in the San Diego Chargers.

"My wife, Amy, and I, feel strongly that literacy and education are critical to the future success of today's youth," Mickelson said.

KPMG's Family for Literacy began five years ago in cooperation with First Book and is led by the spouses of KPMG partners and professionals from across the firm's offices. To date, KPMG has delivered more than two million books to children in local communities throughout the country.

Before the game, Mickelson, dressed in the powder-blue of his Chargers, joined the MNF set and was asked about the Ryder Cup. Two weeks ago, the Americans couldn't make a 10-6 lead after two days hold up and lost 141/2-13½ Europe.

"I'm still licking wounds," said Mickelson, who counts four major championships among his 40 career PGA Tour wins. "It still stings. It was one of the toughest losses I've even been involved with. I can't believe we didn't pull it through."

But Mickelson had little doubt who would win the game. Mickelson, pointing out that the Chargers have beaten Manning-led teams five of the last six games, and that the Chargers have beaten the Broncos nine of the last 12 games, took the Chargers.

via: www.usatoday.com