The Masters: Ranking the 25 most exceptional performances at Augusta
By Bill Felber
T-15: Phil Mickelson, 2010 Masters, 272 (-16), Std Deviation -2.42
Mickelson was a two-time defending champion, having already won in 2004 and 2006. His first-round 67 trailed 1992 champion Fred Couples by a stroke and a Friday 71 cost him another stroke, this time trailing both Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood.
Westwood’s Saturday 68 gave him sole possession of the lead, but Mickelson played a three-hole stretch of the back nine in 5-under par to move back within a shot of the lead. He had a three-shot advantage over Tiger Woods and K.J. Choi in third.
That set up a Sunday finish that amounted to match play for Westwood and Mickelson. Playing unevenly, the leader mixed front nine birdies with bogeys while the steadier Mickelson recorded pars on each of the first seven holes. The championship turned on the final two holes of the front 9, Mickelson birdieing 8 and Westwood bogeying 9 to give Mickelson a one-stroke lead at the turn.
Having given himself the advantage, Mickelson pressed it through the back nine. He birdied 12 and 13, added a birdie at 15 and led Westwood by three. A birdie on 17 breathed hope into Westwood’s catchup bid, setting up the potential for a tie if he birdied 18 and Mickelson bogeyed. Instead, Mickelson laid down a closing birdie for his third 67 of the week, building his final margin to three strokes.