Lefty finally gets it right

<p>Finally!</p><p>Phil Mickelson's agonizing pursuit of a major ended Sunday at the Masters when he made an 18-foot birdie putt on the final hole, a spectacular conclusion to a back-nine duel with Ernie Els.</p><p>Gone is that ugly streak of being 0-for-42 in golf's biggest events. Gone are questions about Mickelson's game and whether it could stand up to the scrutiny of a major championship.</p><p>He delivered a command performance to the very end, with two birdies on the final three holes for a 3-under 69 that gave him a one-stroke victory over Els.</p><p>The putt curled into the back of the hole, setting off an enormous cheer. Mickelson jumped and thrust his fists, then kissed his ball when he plucked it from the cup.</p><p>"Oh my God!" he said as he walked off the green and into the arms of his wife and three children.</p><p>Until Sunday, he was known as the best player to have never won a major.</p><p>Now, he's simply one of the best in the game.</p><p>His awesome skills were on full display along the back nine at Augusta National, and they had to be. Els was flawless, making two eagles in his round of 67 that looked as though it would be enough to get the green jacket he covets, and the third leg of the Grand Slam.</p><p>But Mickelson was more determined than ever.</p><p>He rattled off three straight birdies to stay in range, caught Els with a 15-foot birdie putt on the 16th and then had the stage to himself on No. 18.</p><p>Despite a half-dozen close calls in the majors, Mickelson had never come to the final hole with a share of the lead. He never had the final say.</p><p>On this day, he refused to let his chance get away.</p><p>He smartly played 3-wood off the tee to avoid the bunkers and hit his approach behind the hole. Mickelson got a huge break with Chris DiMarco blasted out of a greenside bunker and just beyond Mickelson's ball marker, giving him the line on the biggest putt of his life.</p><p>"I just couldn't believe that ball fell in there," Mickelson said.</p><p>Before walking into the scoring hut to sign his card, Mickelson held daughter Sophia and said, "Daddy won. Can you believe it?"</p><p>Mickelson, who shot a 31 on the back, finished at 9-under 279. Mike Weir, whose victory last year made him the first southpaw to win the Masters, slipped the green jacket on the most famous Lefty in golf.</p><p>It was a bitter end for Els, who now knows how Mickelson has felt all these years. The big South African did nothing wrong over the final 12 holes, salvaged four crucial pars along the way and it still wasn't enough.</p><p>"I think Phil deserved this one," Els said. "He won this one. He didn't lose it like some of his other ones. Full credit to him."</p><p>K.J. Choi holed a 5-iron from 220 yards on the 11th hole for eagle, kept his hopes alive with a 40-foot birdie putt on the 13th but wound up with a 69, three shots behind.</p><p>Tiger Woods was long gone before the fireworks started. He made a double bogey _ this third of the tournament _ on the 13th hole and shot 71, leaving him 11 shots out of the lead in a tie for 22nd, his worst finish ever at the Masters.</p><p>Woods now has gone seven majors without winning, and he has played his last five over par.</p><p>But this Masters didn't need him to deliver the drama.</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/4/171405