PHIL MICKELSON fired a final round seven under par 65 yesterday to win the Bay Hill Invitational golf tournament by three strokes for his 10th career title on the PGA Tour.

Mickelson's late charge beat Australian Stuart Appleby, the winner last week at the Honda Classic. He picked up six strokes in six holes on the back nine to finish 16 strokes under par. Appleby came in at 13 under with a bogey on the final hole for a round of 69.

Mickelson was three strokes behind when he made the turn and caught fire on the back nine. He birdied the 11th hole from 12 feet, then sank a 50 foot putt for eagle on the par five 12th hole.

He then birdied 13 and 14 to take the lead alone. Another birdie on 16 extended his lead to a comfortable three strokes with two holes to play. Appleby needed to hole his seven iron second shot on 18 for eagle to catch Mickelson, but instead nearly hit into the water and made bogey.

Mickelson, who has yet to win a major, picked up $270,000 for this victory. He also moved up to eighth place on the 1997 earnings list and to third place in the US Ryder Cup team standings.