Heavyweight Woods-Mickelson slugfest electrifies Masters

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson teed off early Sunday, but quickly took center stage. Neither could pull off the miracle comeback, but their charges sent shockwaves across Augusta National.

By T.J. Auclair, PGA.com Interactive Producer

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- The final round at Augusta National was nearly one for the ages.

It's not often -- perhaps never, actually -- that all eyes are on the seventh-to-last pairing at the Masters. What's even more unusual is when the attention on that seventh-to-last pairing is centered on two men who are a whopping seven shots behind the leaders.

Despite how uncommon all that is, the hoopla was for good reason. There were two protagonists here. Two Goliaths. No. 1 and No. 2 in the world. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.

Now do you understand why this was so significant?

With a 1:35 p.m. tee time under pristine blue skies and an abundance of sunshine, Tiger and Phil set out with the goal of making up a lot of ground at the immaculate Augusta National.

The start was ugly. Tiger's tee shot went 80 yards left of the first fairway and wound up in the eighth fairway. Phil's drive was yanked to the right, hit a tree and nestled in a fairway bunker. After just two shots, this pairing wasn't living up to the hype.

Somehow, someway, the pair gutted out two incredible pars. Call it the previews you have to endure before the movie you've been dying to see.

This was a drama, a thriller and a horror rolled up into one.

Mickelson was the early hero with six birdies over a seven-hole stretch from No. 2-8 that led to a Masters record-tying 6-under 30 on the front nine, a feat that had only been accomplished on three other occasions.

Not to be outdone, the slow-starting Tiger birdied No. 2 and then plugged away with pars until holing a 25-foot eagle putt at No. 8 that really revved up the atmosphere.

As thousands of patrons waited patiently behind the ninth green for the heavyweights to come through, all they could do was rely on the reaction of those huddled around the eighth green some 500+ yards away to learn what had unfolded. Two roars -- one significantly louder than the other -- confirmed an eagle for Tiger and a birdie for Mickelson.

Following a world-class par on No. 9, Woods had a 3 under. And, if you buy into golfing lore, all of this Woods/Mickelson madness happened before the tournament even started -- because as they say in Augusta, the Masters doesn't start until the back nine on Sunday.

At the turn, Woods was 7 under and four off the lead, which was held by eventual champion Angel Cabrera at 11 under. Mickelson, on the other hand, was within one of the lead at 10 under. It seemed, almost, that all of Mickelson's prayers had been answered before he even hit Amen Corner, holes 11-13, that typically make or break a player in the final round.

There wasn't a speck of green grass to be seen outside of the ropes throughout the back nine, as thousands upon thousands of people joined the masses, in hopes of witnessing a first-hand Masters miracle involving one, or both, of golf's two most famous stars.

On the first leg of Amen Corner, situated to the right of the 11th green and just behind the famous par-3 12th tee box, adult beverages were flowing like Niagara Falls and each player had a definitive cheering section.

Bets were taken before each shot.

"I'll bet 10 bucks Tiger knocks in this birdie putt," said one sauced-up spectator to no one in particular as Tiger lined up a 25-footer on No. 11.

"I'll bet you 10 bucks he misses," yelled another.

Turns out Tiger missed the putt and the loser paid up.

When Woods and Mickelson made their way to No. 12, Woods still trailed by four at 7 under and Mickelson was still just a shot back at 10 under. That wouldn't be the case for long -- at least for Mickelson.

To the displeasure of legions of Phil fans squashed into the heart of Amen Corner, Mickelson made a fatal mistake, hooking the ball into the bank just right of the green before it trickled back into the water.

That led to a double bogey, mass groaning of deflation and a grimace and quick shake of the head by Mickelson's swing coach -- Tiger's ex -- Butch Harmon, who was along for the journey.

Mickelson bounced back with a birdie at No. 13 to finish Amen Corner in 1 over. Woods also birdied No. 13.

It didn't seem possible, but the Augusta National crowds became even denser when Woods and Mickelson got to No. 15. It seemed as though everyone who had been at Amen Corner trekked over to the area to the right of the 15th hole, flooded up to the 16th green and around the 17th tee. It was a sight to see … if you were tall enough.

Woods and Mickelson both narrowly missed eagle attempts at No. 15 that really could have caused a stir. Phil Knight, the billionaire co-founder of Nike, was even tagging along and there was no doubt where his allegiance laid. The 71-year-old was wearing the same red Nike shirt and black Nike hat as Tiger, just within a few feet of the breathtaking Elin Woods, Tiger's wife, also decked out in a red shirt and black pants.

Just right of the 16th green, the temperature felt 10 degrees warmer in the shade than in the open air on each side of the 17th fairway, because of the swells of people inching closer and closer together to try and catch a glimpse of the action.

Everyone was rewarded for the cuddling, too, as Tiger hit a spectacular tee shot to within a few feet and converted the birdie to pull within a shot of the lead at the time at 10 under.

The situation went from crazy to bizarre on No. 17. As Tiger and Phil were walking toward the green, a spectator who clearly had had more than enough to drink dashed onto the course, running around like a fool, and belly-flopped himself into a bunker.

Covered from head to toe in sand, the perpetrator was quickly whisked away by security. It's safe to say he won't be sleeping in his own bed Sunday night and probably won't be attending a Masters for years to come.

What happened next were back-to-back bogeys for Tiger to close out a 4-under 68 and a tie for sixth. Mickelson also bogeyed No. 18 to finish the round with a 5-under 67 and fifth place.

It was an incredibly anticlimactic ending to what was shaping up to be an amazing day. The atmosphere was one that portended something extra-special, and that's almost what the fans got.