In every poll taken over the last 18 years Jack Nicklaus' record sixth victory
has come out tops as the most exciting Masters finish ever.
It certainly got Phil Mickelson's vote - until the magical moment he finally
became a major champion.
"I don't think any Masters will ever compare to the 1986 Masters, but for me
this one does," said Mickelson with a smile which he added would not be leaving
him for a long time. Just like the green jacket he was wearing.
Nicklaus, determined to show he was not done and dusted at age 46, came home
in a six-under-par 30, making an eagle on the 15th and birdies at the 16th and
17th to beat Greg Norman and Tom Kite by one.
Mickelson, determined to show he had what it took to lift a major after an
amazing 17 top-10 finishes, covered the back nine in 31, holing birdie putts at
the 12th, 13th, 14th, 16th and 18th.
The 33-year-old, in his 47th major, entered that stretch three behind Ernie
Els, who had eagled both the eighth and 13th, but with the dramatic closing
20-footer he rid himself of the eternal bridesmaid role.
No longer the "best current player without a major". Now the man to create
golfing history - six successive first-time winners.
"I am the luckiest man alive," said Mickelson - also, of course, the second
left-handed winner in a row following Mike Weir. And that after 141 years in
which Bob Charles was the only "southpaw" member of the major club.
"It feels like make-believe," he added. "Having come so close so many
times, to have putts made on me on the last to lose by a shot (Payne Stewart at
the 1999 US Open and David Toms in the 2001 US PGA), to have had good rounds
fall short, to have it be such a difficult journey to win my first major makes
it that much more special, sweeter.
"It just feels awesome.
"I felt different to before - I was confident that good things would happen.
I don't feel the relief yet. I feel excited, ecstatic, a little disbelief.
"When you finally do achieve that goal, the harder the struggle the greater
the reward."
A year ago there were some serious health concerns over his wife Amy in
childbirth, but both mother and baby were fine in the end and the
father-of-three could not be happier now.
Every champion needs a little luck and Mickelson had it at the last. Playing
partner Chris DiMarco came out of a bunker and his ball finished just behind
Mickelson's ball-marker, showing him the route to the hole.
But, crushed as Els was to miss out by such a narrow margin, nobody can
begrudge this champion his success.
Mickelson was denied by an 18-foot putt from Stewart at Pinehurst five years
ago - just four months before Stewart died in tragic circumstances. Two years
later in Atlanta he recorded the lowest total in major history, only for Toms to
lower it by one moments later with a 12-foot putt.
Third in the last three Masters and only 38th on last year's American money
list without a single victory he decided the time had come to change his ways.
No more "Phil the Thrill" going for everything, from now on a more-careful
approach.
"I feel I have got the game to play a major championship test without getting
into too much trouble," he said two weeks ago.
He also switched to a softer ball that allowed him to spin the ball more.
"I went to number two in the world with the softer ball, so it was an easy
reversion back.
"What I now do differently is put the priority off the tee on getting the
ball in the fairway. I want a little more control over it, not hitting it quite
as far but keeping it in the short grass."
Now with the monkey off his back, many will expect him to win more majors.
Especially while world number one Tiger Woods is struggling.
Woods managed only 22nd place this weekend, though he was physically sick for
his last round. He has not added to his eight majors since the 2002 US Open.
Els, of course, has not added to his three since the 2002 Open and his last
five Masters finishes have been second, sixth, fifth, sixth and second.
At 34 there is still time, for him, though to achieve his goal of a career
Grand Slam.
And, of course, there is even more time for Paul Casey and Justin Rose to
build on what they did at Augusta.
Having thought he might become the first Augusta debutant to win since Fuzzy
Zoeller in 1979 - and only the fourth ever - Casey slipped from third to sixth
with a closing 74, but said: "This gives me a real taste for it. It's been
fantastic.
"I handled the nerves very well. I was nice and relaxed out there. The last
two tournaments over here have been great." He was 10th on his debut in the
Players Championship.
Rose, of course, takes away mixed memories. The highs of leading the first two
days, then the low of his third round 81.
The 23-year-old commented: "I just went AWOL (absent without leave) on
Saturday. There are a lot of positives to take out of the week and all-in-all
it's been a good week, but it was a rollercoaster and the third round cost me
the chance of winning a major.
"Maybe you have to lead a couple before you can win one. I have learnt a lot.
Leading a major was new ground and that will stand me in good stead."
Paul Lawrie's 1999 Open remains the last European victory in a major. But with
Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer and Sergio Garcia - after a best-of-the-week
66 - joint fourth there is more hope now.
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