Mickelson and Woods thrilled the galleries
Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods set Augusta alight on Sunday with some spectacular play to get themselves in contention for the Green Jacket.
Paired together in a dream two-ball, Mickelson and Woods matched each other until faltering towards the end of their rounds, eventually finishing fifth and tied-sixth respectively.
World number two Mickelson went out in 30 to reach 10 under par for the tournament, just a shot behind overnight leader Kenny Perry, before a momentum stopping double bogey at the short 12th.
The left-hander got a shot back at the next but missed short putts for eagle and birdie at the 15th and 17th to see his title challenge wither for another year.
Yanked it
"I got it going, but the double at 12 certainly hurt," he reflected. "You've got to get through there with par. I just yanked it, just quit on it and the ball went dead right.
"Then at 15 I just made a tentative stroke - I didn't trust my read, I didn't commit to it.
"I enjoyed the opportunity to play with Tiger and I enjoyed the chance to try to win a golf tournament.
"I love the fact that I shot 30 to give myself an opportunity to win. I'm certainly disappointed with the way I played the back nine, though.
"It was a very emotional day. The crowd made the highs even higher and the moans made the lows even lower."
Right there
Woods made a much quieter start but also got to 10-under with a birdie at the 16th before wayward tee-shots at the final two holes led to a bogey-bogey finish.
"When I birdied 16 obviously I was right there," he said. "I hit a good tee shot down 17, but the wind wouldn't let it cut back and consequently I was dead from there.
"I was just trying to shoot 65. I thought that would have been a good number to post. Obviously I didn't do it."
However, the world number one admitted he was pleased just to get into contention after a difficult start.
"I hit it so bad today warming up," he revealed. "I was hitting quick hooks, blocks, you name it and then on the very first hole I almost hit it into eight fairway.
"It's one of the worst tee shots I've ever hit starting out. I fought my swing all day and almost won the tournament with a 'band-aid' swing. It was just terrible - I don't know what was going on."
