Masters Tournament: The ten best players in Augusta National history
By Bill Felber
7: Phil Mickelson – 1993-2018, (2004, 2006, 2010), -13.70
For the first half of his career, Phil Mickelson may not have had one of the best records at Augusta, but he certainly had one of the most frustrating. Four different times – three of them in succession between 2001 and 2003 – he finished solo third. In 2003 he began the final round two strokes behind eventual Masters champion Mike Weir, but was never able to climb closer.
Those perennial frustrations finally ended in 2004 when Mickelson followed an opening even-par 72 with three straight rounds of 69 to edge Ernie Els by a stroke. The two had battled for the lead all afternoon, Els seizing it with an eagle at 8, but Mickelson climbing back into a tie with a birdie at 16.
After Els parred the final hole, Mickelson drained an 18 foot birdie putt there to avoid a potential playoff and claim the first major championship of his career. It capped a back nine 31 for Mickelson.
Mickelson’s second Masters title, in 2006, came by two strokes over Tim Clark. His third, in 2010, came by three strokes over Lee Westwood. Again, Mickelson blitzed the back nine on Sunday to win, recording a 32 with birdies on 12, 13, 15 and 18.
Mickelson made a run at a fourth title in 2015, but was eventually overwhelmed by Jordan Spieth’s momentum. He tied Justin Rose for second, four strokes behind.