Atlanta - Phil Mickelson spectacularly burst through the field with four birdies in seven holes on the front nine before winning the Tour Championship by three shots on Sunday.

Four strokes off the pace overnight, the American left-hander fired a sparkling five-under-par 65 at a breezy East Lake Golf Club to clinch his third PGA Tour victory of the year and 37th of his career.

Mickelson chipped in from just off the 16th green for his fifth birdie of the day before posting a nine-under total of 271 in the Tour's fourth and final playoff event of the season.

World number one Tiger Woods birdied two of the last four holes for a 70 to finish second and win the season-long points race for the FedExCup, plus the $10-million bonus. - Reuters