Mickelson Wins 3rd Masters Title
Phil Mickelson kept yanking balls into the trees, and even had an unexpected brush with nature right on the green.
Still, he had what it took to win his third Masters championship on Sunday.
Already a fan favorite and sentimental pick with his wife and mother battling breast cancer, Mickelson rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt at the signature 12th hole. He then managed a stunning shot off the pine straw and around a tree to set up another birdie at the next hole.
Lefty wrapped it up with yet another birdie at the 18th, then headed to the side of the green to hug wife Amy.
Mickelson finished at 16-under par and three shots ahead of 54-hole leader Lee Westwood and four shots in front of hard-charging Anthony Kim, who finished with a 7-under 65 that sent him to the clubhouse clinging to hope Mickelson would falter.
The other contenders faded away, most notably Tiger Woods, who struggled all day with a shaky swing off the tee and never made a serious push for the lead.
His big highlight was holing out from the seventh fairway for an eagle, and he had another eagle at the 15th, but an inexplicable three-putt bogey from about 6 feet at the 14th doomed his chances. He finished with a final-round 3-under 69 to stand at 11 under.
Woods wasn’t the only one to feel Augusta’s bite. Fifty-year-old Fred Couples dumped a shot in the water at the 12th, leading a double-bogey that stifled his bid to become golf’s oldest major champion. K.J. Choi looked steadier than anyone until two straight bogeys knocked him from a share of the lead. Choi tied Woods at 11 under.
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Sources: NBC Sports, Fox Sports, Google Maps
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