Mickelson masters new look Augusta

A week ago there were genuine concerns that Phil Mickelson might have peaked too soon for the Masters. But seven days on from an astonishing 13-stroke victory at the Atlanta warm-up event Mickelson was smiling from ear to ear in Augusta last night after winning his second green jacket in three years and second major title in a row.

He did it, according to coach Rick Smith, with "the most perfect round he's ever played in a major".

A closing 69 for an seven-under-par total that beat South African Tim Clark by two may not compare in purely numerical terms with last week's 28-under aggregate that left the rest for dead.

But it was the fact that he was in such control against such a field on such a demanding course that gave Mickelson such satisfaction.

"I will cherish that final round and look back at some of the shots I was able to pull out and some of the putts I was able to make," said the left-hander, now a winner of three of the last nine majors. "It was a long day, but a wonderful day."

In Atlanta, Mickelson, oozing confidence, had said he did not just want to win, but win with a bit to spare so that he could enjoy the walk up the 18th.

Standing on the final tee three clear meant exactly that.

"I loved it. It was incredible. I had actually been wanting a four or five-shot lead, but three was okay too.

After waiting 43 majors for his first victory Mickelson has done what many people thought he might and he certainly thought he could. Win a bunch of them.

Following his success in the US PGA Championship last August he is, of course, now halfway towards a clean sweep of all four and emulating a feat only Tiger Woods - joint third yesterday - has ever accomplished.

But on that Mickelson said: "Let's settle down Grand Slam talk and stuff. The Tiger Slam is just one of the most incredible feats in the game — that and Bobby Jones' Grand Slam and Ben Hogan in '53 winning three of the four.

"I am just having so much fun playing and competing in these tournaments and trying to focus in and get my best game out."

Last year Mickelson, as the unsuccessful defending champion, helped Woods into a fourth green jacket. This time it was Woods, disgusted with how he had putted, who helped Mickelson into his second. "I certainly enjoyed having the jacket put on me rather than putting it on," quipped the new champion.

Vijay Singh led on the opening day, Chad Campbell at halfway and Clark well into the third round. But once Mickelson got there he stayed there.

After six holes of the final round he was involved in a five-way tie at the top, but birdies at the seventh and eighth opened the gap.

Jose Maria Olazabal's birdie-birdie-eagle burst from the 13th - and that after an outward 32 - gave him the chance to  catch the American, but Olazabal then three-putted the 16th and had to work hard for two closing pars.

Fred Couples was poised to narrow the gap on the 14th, but not only missed a four-foot birdie putt, but failed with the one coming back as well.

Woods could have applied pressure when he set up eagle opportunities from only six and eight feet at the 13th and 15th, but the world number one missed both and after almost holing-in-one on the next he three-putted the 17th.

Clark stole outright second place by sinking a bunker shot on the last, while Woods was left shaking his head when he finally made a putt from 30 feet seconds later to share third place with Couples, Campbell, Retief Goosen and Olazabal, whose 66 was the low round of the week.

The Irish challenge was led by Darren Clarke who finished on three over par after slipping back badly in the last round with a 77.  Padraig Harrington suffered a similar fate and finished on four over par.

Mickelson simply showed no chinks in his armour, apart from a bogey on the last, but the job he came to do had been done by then.