Big guns' assault falls short

Apr 12 2009

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson served up one of the great head-to-head duels in major history at Augusta National on Sunday - but both came off the course bitterly disappointed.

Although Mickelson was the one to win it by one, a closing bogey appeared to have ended his hopes of a third Masters title. The 2004 and 2006 champion, out in a record-equalling 30, was left to rue a succession of bad mistakes on the back nine as he shot 67 for a nine-under-par aggregate.

Woods, seeking his 15th major and fifth green jacket, closed with two bogeys for a 68 that put him on eight under. The pair had started an hour ahead and seven strokes behind overnight leaders Kenny Perry and Angel Cabrera and with four holes to play Perry, at 48 trying to become the oldest winner ever in majors, was 12 under.

Cabrera was two behind, but was down to third place as Perry's Ryder Cup teammate Chad Campbell stood 11 under after 14 holes.

"I'm not going to leave, but these guys are pretty good," said Mickelson.

"It was a fun front nine, but I made a terrible swing on 12. That was costly and missing the eagle putt on 15 certainly hurt."

Woods pinpointed his drive down the 17th as the moment it was over for him.

"I was pretty much dead from there," he commented.