Phil Mickelson played his best golf of the season to finish 16-under, winning the 2010 Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, in Augusta, Georgia, on Sunday.
Mickelson, who came into the day tied with Lee Westwood at 11-under, hit some poor shots but then made some amazing saves, hitting out of the woods and onto the green.
On 9, 10, and most notably on 13, Mickelson missed badly with his drive but saved par, and on 13, scored a birdie with a difficult shot out of deep pine straw under the trees.
Mickelson, who came into the day tied with Lee Westwood at 11-under, hit some poor shots but then made some amazing saves, hitting out of the woods and onto the green.
On 9, 10, and most notably on 13, Mickelson missed badly with his drive but saved par, and on 13, scored a birdie with a difficult shot out of deep pine straw under the trees.
Mickelson took risks and made good on them, scoring five birdies without a bogey.
“I could go on and on as to the many reasons why, but to win this tournament it’s the most amazing feeling. This has been a special day. I’ll look back on this day. I’ll always cherish it,” said Mickelson.
Mickelson said the game turned in his favor on the 12th hole. “Just like in ’04 I hit the ball in the same spot. I knew that putt. I ended up making that, and that gave me a little advantage heading into 13 and 15. And fortunately I was able to reach those in two and make birdies.”
Mickelson has had a difficult year. His wife and his mother are battling breast cancer, and the stress had hurt his concentration. Mickelson’s wife, who had spent the entire tournament in bed, came out to watch his triumph at the 18th hole, a very emotional moment for both of them.
“I am very proud of my wife, and the fight and struggle that she has been through,” Mickelson said. “It s been a difficult year, and to come out on top in this tournament, it feels terrific and it’s very emotional.”
This was Mickelson’s third Masters win, putting him in rare golfing company: Jack Nicklaus has won the Masters Tournament six times, Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods four, and Jimmie Demaret, Sam Snead, Gary Player, and Nick Faldo have won three each. Now Phil Mickelson adds his name to that list.
Tiger Miffed
Tiger Woods, coming back after a five-month layoff to try to repair the damage he did to his family with his infidelity, turned in a performance which would have satisfied any other golfer, but left Woods disappointed.
After the tournament Woods told CBS that he was not pleased with his play.
“I wanted to win this tournament,” Woods said. “As the week went on I kept hitting the ball worse.”
Woods said that he judged his play by the same standard, despite his layoff. He wasn’t going to pass off his poor play with the excuse that he was rusty.
“I entered this event,” he said. “I only enter events to win, and I didn’t get it done. I didn’t hit the ball good enough, and I made too many mistakes around the greens.”
Woods said he wasn’t sure when he would play again.
“I am going to take a little time off and reevaluate things.”
Woods scored two eagles and three birdies but also five bogies. He mishit his first drive and hooked several other drives into the woods along the fairway. He three-putted 14, ending his chance to catch the leaders.
Lee Westwood played par golf through the first nine holes and scored a pair of birdies on the final nine, but didn’t make the big shots he needed to catch Mickelson.
Westwood had hoped to be the first Englishman to win the Masters since Nick Faldo’s last win in 1996.
Anthony Kim came from nowhere to finish third, 12-under, shooting a 65, tying the lowest round of the tournament.
K.J. Choi, who entered the tournament at the last moment, nearly scored an upset as he was tied for the lead after 12 holes. But the pressure seemed to unsettle him, and he finished tied for fourth with Woods. Choi and Woods shot the same scores on each day of the tournament.
Fred Couples failed in his bid to be the oldest Masters winner, finishing 9-under after leading the field at 6-under after the first round.
