Ben Crane is known for his methodical, focused style of play, but this is ridiculous.

Two shots off the lead entering the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, Crane went about his business so intently that he claimed not to know that he’d earned his first win since 2005 until playing partner Ryuji Imada congratulated him on the 18th green.

“You know, I did not know that I had won when it was over,” Crane said after his third career win. “I didn’t know who was playing well. I didn’t know what was really going on in front of me. Certainly the cameras followed us most of the day. But I did not know if someone was ahead of me that made a good score. I had no idea really what was going on.

“I’m thankful that I didn’t. Someone said, ‘one-shot lead’ when we were going to the last hole, so I thought he might be right. … Actually the first person that told me was Ryuji. He goes, ‘Congratulations.’ And I go, ‘Did I win?’ He kind of looks at me. I said, ‘Did I win the tournament?’ He’s like, ‘Yeah.’ I’m like, ‘All right, thanks.’”

Believable or not, Crane did display some Zen-like focus, especially when he was draining one monster putt after another. Those bombs gave him enough of a cushion to survive a couple of par misses down the stretch and hold off a horde of golf’s up-and-comers. One shot behind Crane was the talented 20-something trio of Marc Leishman, Brandt Snedeker and former Nationwide Tour phenom Michael Sim, and one shot further back was a group that included diaper dandy Rickie Fowler (along with graybeards Ernie Els and 51-year-old Michael Allen).

Crane made some offseason headlines when a tabloid accused him of making anti-Tiger statements, an allegation that Crane emphatically denies. He’s happy to be in the headlines for the right reasons. “Yeah, I mean, obviously being in the news a month ago was bizarre. Someone made some stuff up that I said something about Tiger, which I didn’t,” he said. “Now to be in the news again, obviously my name keeps popping up. Yeah, it’s obviously good to be on a good note. Is that profound? Good to be on a good note?”

Not as profound as the spoils of victory, like $954,000 and a trip to Augusta in April.

Left Turn

He mixed his characteristic intermittent brilliance with a frustrating array of wayward drives and putts that burned the edges. Oh, and he had his integrity questioned on a national scale. All in all, it was an interesting, eventful week for golf’s interim lead dog.

Phil Mickelson entered Sunday’s final round only four shots back before bogeying the first three holes and disappearing from the leaderboard. But the weekend’s most pressing Lefty issue was his controversial but perfectly legal use of a square-grooved Ping wedge.

The background: In implementing the new rules banning square grooves in favor of modified U-grooves, golf’s ruling bodies exempted Ping Eye 2 wedges due to a 1993 lawsuit filed by Ping against the USGA. Mickelson -- among others -- dusted off an old Ping Eye 2 and put it in his bag, and chaos ensued, courtesy of Tour journeyman Scott McCarron, who used the C-word in describing the situation (no, not that one).

“It’s cheating, and I’m appalled Phil has put (the grandfathered wedge) into play. ... As one of our premier players (Mickelson) should be one if the guys who steps up and says this is wrong,” McCarron said.

Mickelson himself hates the loophole, but maintains that it’s certainly not cheating if the club is explicitly approved for play. It’s a terrible rule,’’ Mickelson said. "To change something that has this kind of loophole is nuts. But it’s not up to me or any other player to interpret what the rule is, or the spirit of the rule.”

While agreeing with the general sentiment that McCarron was trying to express, Mickelson naturally took umbrage at being accused of cheating. “We all have our opinions on the matter, but a line was crossed and I just was publicly slandered,” Mickelson said after his third round. “And because of that, I’ll have to let other people handle that.”

Rather ominous, don’t you think? Stay tuned. But now, back to golf.

In his first tournament of 2010, Mickelson was in contention heading into the final round, but a brutal start put an end to that. Still, he played enough good golf to give him confidence heading into what could be the most important season of his career.

“I had a good warm-up session. I felt like it was going to be a good day. I got off to a terrible start, and then throughout the round didn’t get much out of it. But the good thing is that I’ve got a direction of what I’m working on. I felt like I hit some good shots coming down the stretch. The last 13, 14 holes I actually hit a lot of good shots. I’m excited about next week because my game is feeling not as rusty as it looks, and I’ve had some success up at L.A., so I’m excited about next week.”

To refresh your memory, Mickelson missed the final-round cut at Torrey Pines in 2009, then went out and won the Northern Trust at Riviera the next week. If he can limit the distractions of the burgeoning grooves controversy, he’s set up for another triumphant week in Los Angeles.

“I’m excited to be back playing golf,” he said. “I missed being out and playing competitively. I’ve had 10 weeks off, and I’m excited about getting the year started again. I love starting in San Diego. It’s one of my favorite tournaments, and I felt like I was ready. I didn’t get the performance I wanted, but next week in L.A., I think that I should be able to get it turned around.”

Rickie the Rookie

Somewhat prematurely, golf’s punditry has anointed Rickie Fowler as the game’s next big thing. He had more face time this weekend than the cast of Jersey Shore. Cameras love the mop-top, the outfits, the youthful exuberance.

Turns out, the kid might be up to the hype.

Fowler was in contention until a double bogey at 17 knocked him back into a tie for fifth. Still, he showed he belonged with an assortment of aggressive and accurate shots and a pure putting stroke.

“Just knowing that I can compete out here, a little more confidence in that,” he said. “I played well for a couple events in the Fall Series last year at Vegas and Fry’s in Scottsdale. This just kind of reminds me that I can go out and win if I put myself in position.”

Playing partner Phil Mickelson was suitably impressed.

“It’s fun. What a great asset to the Tour this guy is,” Mickelson said. “He’s a great player, but really a fun guy to be around, and I think he’s going to really enhance the game of golf.

“He’s long; he’s got a great short game; he’s got great control of his irons. I just think overall he’s a very solid player. I think he’s going to have a great year.”