American Phil Mickelson held his nerve to clinch a one-shot victory at the U.S. 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, 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.
'FULL CREDIT'
"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."
The 34-year-old Els, who started out three behind overnight leaders Mickelson and Chris DiMarco, put himself on track for a fourth career major with eagles at the eighth and 13th holes.
He forged two clear when he rifled his approach from 206 yards at the 510-yard 13th to 10 feet, calmly rolling in the putt to move to four-under for the day and seven-under for the tournament.
Moments later, Mickelson had a chance to draw level with an eagle of his own at the same hole but his putt from 20 feet slid past the cup.
However, the tap-in for birdie lifted the American into outright second. He closed to within a stroke of the lead at seven-under after he almost holed out for eagle at the par-four 14th.
Twice former U.S. Open champion Els birdied the par-five 15th and stayed at eight-under with three closing pars.
Yet Mickelson, desperate for his major breakthrough, was not done. He caught Els by holing a left-to-right breaking putt from 15 feet for birdie at the par-three 16th, and set up his birdie at the last by splitting the fairway with a three-wood off the tee.
As his winning putt dropped, Mickelson threw his arms in the air in a mixture of relief and joy.
HELPING LINE
He had been helped with the line of that putt when playing partner DiMarco's bunker shot finished a few inches behind his ball.
"That was fortunate," Mickelson said. "I had a great look at his entire putt, every inch.
"I then gave mine about six inches of break. It caught the lip and circled around and went in."
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."
