First major win for Mickelson

AUGUSTA – American Phil Mickelson held his nerve to clinch a one-shot victory at the US Masters on Sunday, holing an 18-foot birdie putt at the last to end his long wait for a first major victory.

The 33-year-old left-hander, who had previously produced 17 top-10 finishes in 46 majors, fired a closing three-under-par 69 to overhaul a last-day charge by Ernie Els. Mickelson, long regarded as the best modern-day player not to win a major, completed the back nine in five-under 31, the lowest by a winner at Augusta National since Jack Nicklaus scorched round in 30 in 1986.He birdied two of the last three holes to finish at nine-under 279, becoming the second successive southpaw to wear the cherished green jacket at Augusta, after last year’s winner Mike Weir of Canada.”I just kept believing something would happen… and it did,” an emotionally-drained Mickelson told reporters.”Having come close so many times, to have had putts made on me in the last holes to lose by a shot… to have it be such a difficult journey to win my first major, makes it that much more special, sweeter.It just feels awesome.”Mickelson, who had finished third in his previous three Masters starts, clinched his 23rd PGA Tour victory after an epic battle of shot-making with Els.South African Els (34), who led by two strokes with five holes to play, fired a five-under 67 to finish second at eight-under 280.South Korea’s KJ Choi was a further two shots back in third after a 69.”I did what I had to do, it just didn’t work out for me,” said triple major winner Els.”Phil deserved this one.He didn’t lose it like some of his others.He won it and full credit to him.”Spaniard Sergio Garcia tied for fourth at three-under 285, reeling off an astonishing eight birdies in 11 holes on his way to a best-of-the-week 66.”It was a good round but unfortunately I didn’t get the start I wanted, despite playing well for the first six holes,” said Garcia, who had trailed the leaders by 11 after double-bogeying the par-three sixth.Level with the Spaniard at three-under was European Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer, who carded a final-round 72.World number one Tiger Woods, who tumbled out of contention for a fourth green jacket with a third-round 75, battled to a closing one-under 71.The eight-times major winner, who started out nine off the lead, vomited several times on the front nine before rallying to finish at two-over 290.”I ate something at lunch here that didn’t agree with me but I got it out,” said the three-times champion after mixing six birdies with a double-bogey at the par-three 12th and three more dropped shots.”I just didn’t make any putts this week.I’m disappointed I didn’t win, I felt like I hit the ball well enough to do it.”- Nampa-ReutersMickelson, long regarded as the best modern-day player not to win a major, completed the back nine in five-under 31, the lowest by a winner at Augusta National since Jack Nicklaus scorched round in 30 in 1986.He birdied two of the last three holes to finish at nine-under 279, becoming the second successive southpaw to wear the cherished green jacket at Augusta, after last year’s winner Mike Weir of Canada.”I just kept believing something would happen… and it did,” an emotionally-drained Mickelson told reporters.”Having come close so many times, to have had putts made on me in the last holes to lose by a shot… to have it be such a difficult journey to win my first major, makes it that much more special, sweeter.It just feels awesome.”Mickelson, who had finished third in his previous three Masters starts, clinched his 23rd PGA Tour victory after an epic battle of shot-making with Els.South African Els (34), who led by two strokes with five holes to play, fired a five-under 67 to finish second at eight-under 280.South Korea’s KJ Choi was a further two shots back in third after a 69.”I did what I had to do, it just didn’t work out for me,” said triple major winner Els.”Phil deserved this one.He didn’t lose it like some of his others.He won it and full credit to him.”Spaniard Sergio Garcia tied for fourth at three-under 285, reeling off an astonishing eight birdies in 11 holes on his way to a best-of-the-week 66.”It was a good round but unfortunately I didn’t get the start I wanted, despite playing well for the first six holes,” said Garcia, who had trailed the leaders by 11 after double-bogeying the par-three sixth.Level with the Spaniard at three-under was European Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer, who carded a final-round 72.World number one Tiger Woods, who tumbled out of contention for a fourth green jacket with a third-round 75, battled to a closing one-under 71.The eight-times major winner, who started out nine off the lead, vomited several times on the front nine before rallying to finish at two-over 290.”I ate something at lunch here that didn’t agree with me but I got it out,” said the three-times champion after mixing six birdies with a double-bogey at the par-three 12th and three more dropped shots.”I just didn’t make any putts this week.I’m disappointed I didn’t win, I felt like I hit the ball well enough to do it.”- Nampa-Reuters