WOODS TO PLAY WITH CHOI, KUCHAR IN OPENING ROUNDS

April 07, 2010

-Assoiciated Press

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP)-Tiger Woods has an ideal tee time for his return to golf at the Masters-at least as far as TV is concerned.

After weeks of speculation about his playing partners for the opening two rounds at Augusta National, the starting times released on Tuesday had more to do with "when" than "who."

Woods is to tee off at 1:42 p.m., Thursday in the penultimate group for the second straight year. Barring any delays, his group likely will be on about the eighth hole when ESPN's live coverage begins at 4 p.m.

It will be the first time Woods has competed since a shocking sex scandal began to unfold the day after Thanksgiving.

Joining him for two days will be Matt Kuchar, a popular figure in these parts from his All-American days at Georgia Tech; and K.J. Choi of South Korea, which is sure to appeal to Augusta National's broadcast partners in Asia.

Woods is to start at 10:35 a.m. on Friday, limiting coverage of him to live streaming on the Masters' Web site.

ESPN executive vice president John Wildhack said every "meaningful shot" by Woods will be shown by the network at some point, whether live or as part of highlights.

"This is the Masters Tournament, and that is THE story line, and we're here to cover the Masters Tournament," Wildhack said. "Obviously Tiger and the fact this is his return to golf is the story line in terms of individual players, but not the only one."

At any other tournament, playing with Woods could be a huge distraction because of so many photographers and reporters tagging along, and fans outside the ropes scrambling for a view.

Augusta National is different.

No one is allowed inside the ropes, and fans walk en masse-there's no running at the Masters.

"It's going to be a lot more at ease this week than most weeks," Woods said Monday before he knew of his starting times. "If there's one week that you would rather have a pairing with me, considering the circumstances, it would probably be this week."

Choi sure didn't mind. He was hoping for it.

Despite some language barriers, they are comfortable playing together. Choi last played with Woods in the third round of the Memorial, which Woods went on to win. This will be his 13th time playing with Woods.

"Even when all this came out and the rumors of Tiger coming back, my friends were saying, ‘Wouldn't it be cool if you were paired with Tiger when he played his first tournament?"' Choi said through his interpreter and agent, Michael Yim.

"It's funny because I sort of had a feeling when I left Dallas that it would be cool if I was paired with Tiger, and it happened," he said. "It's a good surprise."

Choi found out on the 14th hole from a Masters official.

If it didn't sink in at the time, there were a dozen reporters waiting for him as he walked off the 18th green after his practice round. Choi can expect a lot more attention when he tees off Thursday.

"I like playing with big crowds," Choi said. "I will probably play more aggressive."

The gallery following Woods the first two days of practice this week has been enormous, not to mention polite. Woods has received ovations and the occasional "Welcome back, Tiger," while playing with Fred Couples on Monday and Mark O'Meara on Tuesday.

Choi expects that to continue.

"It's important that the gallery realize what's going on," he said. "To take what happened outside the golf course and bring it inside the golf course, I don't think that's right. I believe they're educated and will respect the game of golf."

Steve Stricker will be playing in the group ahead of Woods and doesn't expect any problems. At other tournaments, players have said that could be the toughest spot as photographers walk ahead to get into position.

"I don't think it's going to be that big of a deal," Stricker said. "There's a lot of strict policies here. There's no running up and down the fairways. It's pretty calm. Typically, each green is loaded with people, anyway. It doesn't matter when you go out there. It's five people deep up at each green.

"I think if anywhere you want to be paired ahead of him, this would probably be it."

In other groupings:

- Phil Mickelson is with Robert Allenby and PGA champion Y.E. Yang on the opposite end of the draw from Woods-10:35 a.m. Thursday, 1:42 p.m. Friday.

- Kenny Perry, 49, is older than both his playing partners combined- 28-year-old Camilo Villegas and 20-year-old Rory McIlroy.

- Bringing up the rear are Adam Scott, David Duval and Ricky Barnes. Duval and Barnes qualified by tying for second in the U.S. Open.

CABRERA LOOKING TO DEFEND MASTERS TITLE

A LEGEND SAYS GOODBYE

April 06, 2010

- Associated Press

AUGUSTA, Georgia (AP)-The defending Masters champion normally needs to allow an extra 10 or 15 minutes anytime he walks by the crowd of reporters clustered outside the clubhouse.

There's nothing normal about this year, however.

With reporters on the lookout for Mark O'Meara-better known as Tiger Woods' playing partner Tuesday-Argentina's Angel Cabrera was able to stroll right on by not once, but twice.

"The Masters is the Masters," Cabrera said. "They can talk about anybody, they can talk about Tiger. But the Masters is the Masters, and we have to give that importance to the Masters."

Cabrera's victory at Augusta National was his last, and Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo are the only champions to repeat at the Masters. But Cabrera can never be counted out-especially after the way he won last year.

"I have the possibility," Cabrera said. "Maybe I haven't had the great results lately, but I do feel the chance is out there, and I feel confident about it."

Kenny Perry led Cabrera and Chad Campbell by two strokes with two holes to play last year, only to drop shots on both holes and force a playoff. Cabrera seemed to be finished when his tee shot on 18, the first playoff hole, landed behind a tree, and his next shot hit another tree.

But Cabrera somehow managed to thread a sand wedge to 8 feet and made the putt. When Perry's ball found mud in the fairway on the second hole, Cabrera had only to make a routine par for the green jacket. He was the first Argentine to win the Masters.

"Winning the Masters is the most difficult thing in golf," said Cabrera, who also won the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont. "So anything that comes now is more accessible."

As a reminder, Cabrera stopped by that tree on 18 to show his son Angel, who is caddying for him here this week, just how bad his shot was.

"Honestly, I'm the one who wanted to go see that shot, but he was a perfect excuse."

THAT'S ALL, FOLKS: American Raymond Floyd's days of tournament golf appear to be over.

Floyd announced Tuesday that he will no longer play the Masters, making last year's appearance-his 44th-his final one.

"It was something I toyed with pretty much all year, as to whether I would play or not," Floyd said. "I wanted to leave with really fond memories of the golf course and the way I played the golf course through all of these years, and I'm not competitive there now. I didn't want to go out there and embarrass myself."

Asked if he would continue to play on the Champions Tour, Floyd said he is "probably retired" from tournament golf.

Floyd had played in every Masters since 1965. He won in 1976 and was runner-up three times, including 1990, when he lost to Nick Faldo in a playoff after hitting his approach into the water on No. 11, the second playoff hole. But Floyd, 67, hadn't made the cut in 10 years.

Floyd is the latest in a line of past champions who have decided to stop playing the Masters in recent years, including Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player.

Floyd still plans to play the Par-3 tournament on Wednesday, joking that he can reach most of those greens off the tee.

"I don't feel like it's the end of an era," he said. "I plan to come back and be part of the golf tournament."

April 08, 2010

AP

AUGUSTA, Georgia (AP)-The opening round at Augusta National has turned into old-timers day as 50-year-old Fred Couples leads the Masters with 60-year-old Tom Watson is one stroke behind.

A pair of 52-year-olds, Sandy Lyle and Bernhard Langer, also broke par Thursday.

"How about that?" marveled Tiger Woods, who garnered most of the attention coming back from a five-month layoff and a humiliating sex scandal. "Winning breeds winning, winning breeds a lot of confidence. Whether you win on the regular tour, mini-tour, senior tour, it doesn't matter."

Wearing tennis shoes and no socks, Couples arrived at Augusta coming off three straight wins on the Champions Tour, and he showed he can still keep up with those young whippersnappers, too. He posted the best score of his Masters career, a 6-under 66, to become the tournament's oldest outright leader after the first round.

"Shocking," Couples said.

Not really. Like all past champions, he knows his way around this place- every little hump in the green, every little spot you just can't afford to be. That sort of inside knowledge is strengthened by the unique nature of the Masters, the only major played at the same course every year.

"I know the course very well. I know where to miss shots," said Couples, who won the Masters in 1992 in the midst of making the cut in 23 straight appearances, matching the tournament record. "When I play well, I should shoot in the 60s here."

Watson matched his best Masters round ever, a 67 that showed his stirring run in last year's British Open was no fluke. Then again, he had every reason to be confident after winning a Champions Tour event and finishing sixth at Dubai against a strong field from the regular European tour.

Watson hasn't given up on becoming golf's oldest major champion. He had a shot to win the British Open last summer at age 59, but missed a par putt on the 72nd hole and lost to Stewart Cink in a playoff.

Shortly after sunrise, Watson went out to watch old friends Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer hit the ceremonial tee shots. Then, it was time to play for real.

"It's a long shot for somebody of our age, honestly, to do it," Watson said. "But still, they can do it."

Lyle (69) and Langer (71) are right in the thick of things, as well. The Scotsman put up his lowest Masters score since 1992, while the German was atop the leaderboard for much of the morning before finishing with two straight bogeys.

"It's just a real blessing to be here in the first place," said Langer, a two-time winner who missed the cut the last four years. "To be able to play that long and stay competitive, and then have the kind of day that I had today is pretty special."

Asked if a 50-year-old could win the tournament, the German said it's definitely possible.

"There's a handful of us, like Fred Couples, Tom Watson and a handful of others," Langer said. "I think I've proven over the years that I can play this game, and when I play well I can pretty much win anywhere."

Lyle also felt good about his game, and said beforehand that he still believed he could be somewhat competitive at the Masters for another eight or nine years.

"I've been hitting the ball well," he said coming off the 18th green. "And driving the ball nicely out of the fairway, better than I have in years and years, with plenty of power. And the direction is good. There's a lot of good shots that I hit out there. That was about as good as I probably could have done."

Couples failed to make the cut the last two years but we was on his game right from the start this time. He stuck a wedge to 4 feet at No. 1 for a birdie, and followed by making an 8-foot birdie at the par-5 second. His only stumble came at the fifth, where he couldn't get up and down after an errant iron shot, but he was dead solid perfect on the back side.

He didn't even have to work that hard for his birdies, four of which were from 10 feet and closer. The only long one was a 20-footer at the par-3 12th.

"To win Augusta at age 50 would be a pipe dream," Couples said.

If nothing else, he might start a new fashion trend. Couples decided to wear tennis shoes and ditch his socks to help deal with persistent back problems.

It sure seems to be working.

"I wear nothing but tennis shoes," he said. "I just don't wear any socks with tennis shoes, and these shoes have been good so far."

Not everyone in the over-50 crowd fared so well.

Fifty-two-year-old Ian Woosnam shot an 81, the second-worst round of the day. Craig Stadler (56) struggled to a 79, while Ben Crenshaw (58) put up a 77, Larry Mize (51) signed for a 76 and Mark O'Meara (53) managed a 75.

Still, all but Woosnam beat out a pair of golfers who are more recognizable to this generation: Jim Furyk and Henrik Stenson. They both struggled home at 80.

WOODS LOST HIS MORAL COMPASS, NOT HIS GOLF SWING.

April 08, 2010

AP

AUGUSTA, Georgia (AP)-Tiger Woods might have lost his moral compass. But his swing hasn't gone anywhere.

He struck what might have been the most pressure-packed shot of his career off the first tee, then hit his approach shot 12 feet left of the hole-this as a plane circled lazily overhead towing a banner that read: "Tiger: Did you mean Bootyism?"

Woods' birdie try at the first hole narrowly slid past the cup and spun away. Four other times his birdie tries hit the lip and spun out. He let a half-dozen similarly good birdie opportunities on the back nine get away-this time with a plane towing a different banner: "Sex Addict? Yeah. Right. Sure. Me, Too!"

For all that, Woods still shot 68, his lowest opening round ever at a tournament he's won four times.

If nothing else, no matter how the rest of his time here goes, this performance should put to rest any notion that how Woods plays golf has anything to do with how he behaved.

And remember: If only half the stories of his extramarital flings are true, Woods already won a dozen times around the world knowing full well his secret could blow up at any moment.

When he said this time that he feels more comfortable on a golf course than just about anywhere else, it never rang more true.

"I normally do feel pretty good on the golf course. Sometimes," Woods said, "it may be a little difficult at home when helicopters are flying overhead, taking pictures. But normally, I do feel pretty good."

He was cheered on the range, on the practice putting green alongside the first tee and everywhere else he stepped. The closest thing to derision were muttered conversations along a few fairways, where clusters of friends either dared one another to yell something nasty, or wondered whether anybody else might. No one did.

That certainly had something to do with all the extra security crisscrossing the grounds. Even when Woods sneaked over to a portable toilet on the 11th hole, he was trailed by two guards.

He was also escorted all the way around by Team Tiger, which consisted of a dozen people at various times, but always included his mother, Tida, swing coach Hank Haney, Nike boss Phil Knight, agent Mark Steinberg and a few staff members from the Tiger Woods Foundation.

The cheers were tentative at first, with fans looking at one another as if all of them were searching for the right tone. But soon enough, the applause gathered steam in direct proportion to how Woods was playing.

When he walked onto the 12th tee, he politely tipped the bill of his cap, then realized those in the gallery just ahead of him had popped up out of their seats. Woods took his cap off to the still-standing ovation, then moments later, hit his tee shot at the par-3 hole just 6 feet below the pin and responded to the full-throated roar by taking his cap off again. Half-embarrassed, he followed that with an awkward smile.

"I said thank you all the way," Woods said. "I was saying thank you all day."

That wasn't the only thing he said, of course. For all the talk about a new, more fan-friendly Tiger, flashes of the old one resurfaced as he climbed the leaderboard. He pumped his first with every birdie try that fell and nearly dropped to his knees several times when they didn't.

At the 14th, after a letter-perfect drive down the right side of the fairway, Woods pulled his approach left and long of the green, dropped the club and let out what sounded like the beginning of a howl: "God ..." But he caught himself mid-scream, then just stopped, stared into the distance and composed himself for the next shot. One of his three bogeys followed anyway.

Yet those disappointments were muted compared to the five months of wall-to-wall ridicule that preceded them. As a reminder, he was ripped only Wednesday by Augusta National chairman Billy Payne, who publicly called out Woods for being a less-than-suitable role model for kids.

"We did have a conversation, yes we did," was all Woods said about it. "I was disappointed in myself, too."

Payne's admonition, however, was mild compared to the blistering that Woods caught for a new Nike commercial that aired a day earlier, in which he stares into the camera as his late father asks, "What were you thinking?" The ad has been parodied dozens of times already, most notably with the voice-over replaced by a message Woods was said to have left for one of his mistresses.

"I think that's what my dad would say," Woods said late Thursday, back on the defensive for one of the few times all day.

"It's amazing how my dad can speak to me from different ways, even when he's long gone. He's still helping me. Any son who's lost a father that meant so much in his life, I think they would understand the spot."

Maybe.

But the simple fact that Woods and his backers at Nike have decided to push back tells you two things. First, they're as determined to cash in on his misfortune as everybody else; and two, whatever things Woods needed to work on in rehab, his confidence was not one of them.

POULTER, WESTWOOD LEAD MASTERS AFTER 2 ROUNDS

TIGER 2 BACK

April 09, 2010

- Associated Press

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP)-Two of England's best are atop the leaderboard at a major for the first time. Phil Mickelson is back in the hunt, rejuvenated by Augusta National. Anthony Kim, the sassy young American, has his swagger back.

And a Masters that seems to have unlimited possibilities gets even more compelling with one improbability.

Tiger Woods is right there in the middle of it all.

"I usually put myself in contention most of the time here," Woods said Friday after a 2-under 70 that put him two shots behind Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter. "And this year, I'm right there."

He made it sound so matter-of-fact, as if this is where he is supposed to be. What makes it all so surprising-to most everybody except him-is where Woods had been.

A swift and spectacular downfall from a sex scandal kept Woods out of golf for five months. He has been humiliated in the media for confessions of cheating on his wife, returning to public life at a major that can jangle nerves even in peaceful times.

"Never would we really second-guess his ability on the golf course," Matt Kuchar said. "It's pretty amazing."

And the best of this Masters is still to come.

Poulter, who once boasted that it would be just him and Woods when he reached his potential, made his only bogey on the 18th hole for a second straight 68. Westwood had everything from an eagle to a double bogey in his wild round of 69.

They were at 8-under 136, the first time either of them has been in the lead in a major.

Mickelson needed a birdie on the 18th hole to be paired with Woods, just as they were in the final round last year. His 65-foot putt banged off the back of the cup before spinning away, giving Lefty a 71.

"To only be two back, to be in third place going into the weekend ... there's nothing like being in contention on the weekend at Augusta National," Mickelson said as he goes after a third green jacket. "There's no better feeling in the game. There's nothing you dream of more. I'm within two shots. I'm playing very well, and I feel like I'm right on the edge."

Woods, has won the Masters all three times when going into the weekend in a tie for third or better. He and Mickelson were at 138, along with Kim, K.J. Choi and Ricky Barnes.

Y.E. Yang, who rallied to beat Woods at the PGA Championship eight months ago, had a 72 and was at 5-under 139.

"There's a great buzz on the golf course," said Poulter, who played the first two days in front of Woods. "I was happy to tee off when I did. The crowds are 10-deep. That's always good. I think the tournament is a good one."

Westwood pulled himself out of a deep slump to regain his status as the best in Europe, and he has been closing in on an elusive major. He came within one putt of getting into a playoff in the U.S. Open in 2008 and the British Open last year.

It was a wild ride, for sure.

Westwood moved quickly to the top of the leaderboard with a 6-iron into 18 inches for eagle on the second hole, and he had two tries at an eagle at the par 5s on the back nine. But there also was a hook into the trees on the 14th that led to double bogey, and another tee shot into the pines on the 18th that kept him from the outright lead.

Westwood didn't seem the least bit concerned that Woods was lurking.

"I played with Tiger the last round of the U.S. Open (both shot 73 at Torrey Pines), so that's not really an issue," he said. "And I learned a few things, stuff I'm not going to share, because I think if you get into these situations and learn stuff, what's the point of passing it on? That's what going through these experiences is all about."

Poulter began making his move on the par-3 12th with a shot over the bunker to about 8 feet for birdie. There was muted applause, partly because it's difficult for the fans to see the green, and partly because most of them weren't watching.

"Tiger was on the 11th green," Poulter said with a grin.

Few players are as brash as Poulter, starting with his stylish, colorful clothes. He wore all pink in the final round of the 2006 U.S. Open, a bold move before a New York gallery, and once wore Union Jack trousers at the British Open.

Asked what would go best with a green jacket, Poulter didn't hesitate.

"Absolutely anything," he said.

As for that boast about joining Woods atop the world ranking ranking one day?

"If I win this week, I'll probably go to No. 2, which would be lovely," Poulter said. "So I guess it's a work in progress. I'm working towards that. So we'll see."

But it's more than just Poulter and Woods. It's even more than Poulter and Westwood.

Seven players-five of them among the top 15 in the world-were separated by two shots going into the weekend at a course that is getting faster by the day under warm sunshine and scary, swirling wind.

For all the fuss over who would get stuck playing in the Woods' circus, Choi matched him shot-for-shot over the first two days, and they will play together Saturday in the penultimate group behind the English pair.

An Asian-born male had never won a major until Yang stunned the world by becoming the first player to win a major where Woods held the 54-hole lead. Could it be two in a row for Asia?

Barnes, despite only having two top-10 finishes in his PGA Tour career, is not likely to be intimidated by Woods. They played together at the Masters in 2003 when Woods was the defending champion and Barnes the U.S. Amateur champion, and Barnes was six shots better.

Kim is among the most talented young Americans, with three victories and a starring role in the Ryder Cup two years ago. They were paired in the final round of the AT&T National last summer, where Woods won.

"I'm trying to win this golf tournament and obviously he is, too," Kim said. "I've just got to go out there and play my game."

The ageless champions fell back.

Fred Couples, coming off his Masters-best 66 in the opening round, remained atop the leaderboard for much of his morning round until closing with three straight bogeys for a 75.

Tom Watson took two shots to get out of the bunker on the 18th hole for one last bogey in his round of 74. They were part of the group at 3-under 141, five shots behind.

On a tougher course with daunting hole locations, Woods had to work hard for his 70. He kept his round together by scrambling for pars and taking advantage of the par 5s-he has played them in 8-under for the week.

There were no planes toting suggestive banners Friday, only loads of support and plenty of applause.

The crowds at Augusta National are used to seeing Woods in the hunt-he has not finished worse than sixth since 2005-but this is not a normal year.

Until Thursday, he had not hit a shot in competition since winning the Australian Masters on Nov. 15.

"He's a hell of a player," Kuchar said after spending the last two days with Woods. "It's pretty amazing. I have no idea what he's been doing the last 144 days."

FINAL DAY AT AUGUSTA AFTER THRILLING THIRD ROUND

April 11, 2010

- Associated Press

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP)-The patrons at Augusta National can only hope for as many thrills Sunday as they got the day before.

Lee Westwood held a one-stroke lead at the Masters, his best chance yet to win his first major championship.

Right on his heels was Phil Mickelson, who electrified Augusta National in the third round when he made back-to-back eagles on his way to a 67. He'll be in the final group with Westwood, teeing off at 2:40 p.m. EDT.

Tiger Woods was still in the mix, too-four shots back and tied with K.J. Choi for third place. Those two were playing in the next-to-last group, the fourth straight day they've been paired together.

Fred Couples was five behind and hoping to become the oldest major champion at age 50.

No one could complain about the weather. It was another picture-perfect spring day at Augusta-sunny with temperature rising into the 70s again.

On Saturday, Mickelson made consecutive eagles with three shots. Couples chipped in for eagle. Woods made three straight birdies to keep his name high on the leaderboard.

Ricky Barnes chipped in for a birdie and rolled in another with a 60-foot putt.

Saturday at the Masters sounded an awful lot like Sunday.

"You couldn't figure out who was doing what because there were roars happening simultaneously throughout the course," Mickelson said. "I thought that it was really a fun day to see the leaderboard change."

Westwood made sure there was no change at the top. The Englishman made only one bogey and finished with a tough par for a 4-under 68.

Westwood, No. 4 in the world and among the best without a major, was at 12-under 204. His final-round playing partner was Mickelson, No. 3 in the world and the sentimental favorite at Augusta given his turbulent year at home with his wife and mother battling breast cancer.

Mickelson (205) hasn't looked great this year; it's the first time since 2003 he has come to Augusta without a victory. Now, he goes after a third green jacket by playing in the final group at a major for the first time since his meltdown at Winged Foot in the 2006 U.S. Open.

Woods, No. 1 in the world, has played as though five months of a humiliating sex scandal never happened.

"I think that's what everybody wants to see," Westwood said. "Everybody has missed Tiger on the golf course the last five or six months, and he's up there. Phil is up there. You've got 4, 3 and 1 in the world. It's a good leaderboard, I think."

The Masters had not seen a leaderboard this strong for the final round since Woods and Mickelson-Nos. 1 and 2 in the world-were in the final group in 2001.

"The only thing I can control is what I do, where I hit it," Westwood said. "The guys up on the leaderboard there are great players. They are going to do something. You have to expect the unexpected at times."

MICKLESON ROLLS TO THIRD MASTERS TITLE

April 11, 2010 

- Associated Press

AUGUSTA, Georgia (AP)-Phil Mickelson won his third Masters title, shooting a 5-under 67 Sunday to pull away for a three-stroke win over England's Lee Westwood.

Even sweeter than slipping into another green jacket for Mickelson was seeing his wife waiting for him behind the 18th green at Augusta National with tears streaming down her face.

Amy Mickelson had not been at a golf tournament since being diagnosed with breast cancer 11 months ago and her husband had not looked the same since.

The outcome was never in doubt when he arrived on the 18th green. The conclusion was more emotional than anyone expected.

"I wasn't sure if she was going to be there," Mickelson said.

He shared a long embrace with his wife behind the 18th green, and as he walked to the scoring trailer to sign for the lowest score at Augusta in nine years, a single tear trickled down his cheek to his lip.

"We've been through a lot this year. It means a lot to share some joy together," Mickelson said, his voice cracking as he struggled to keep control. "It's been such an incredible week, an emotional week. And to cap it off with a victory is something I can't put into words.

"It's something we'll share for the rest of our lives."

Determined to win one for his family, Mickelson made two remarkable par saves from the trees, seized control with a 15-foot birdie putt in the heart of Amen Corner and then made a gutsy play with a 6-iron off the pine straw and over Rae's Creek on the par-5 13th to set up a birdie. It was the kind of shot that has brought Mickelson so much criticism for taking unnecessary risks.

There was simply no denying him in this Masters.

His final birdie only mattered on the scorecard, 16-under 272, the lowest by a Masters champion since Tiger Woods in 2001. Mickelson had this won as he walked up the 18th fairway to a massive ovation. He raised both arms when the putt fell, had a long embrace with caddie Jim "Bones" Mackay then walked toward the scoring hut and into his wife's arms.

Standing behind them was Mary Mickelson, his mother, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in July.

So ended a Masters unlike any other.

It began with Woods returning from a humiliating sex scandal, which brought a sharp rebuke from Masters chairman Billy Payne and scrutiny of his behavior throughout the week. His wife was not at the Masters for the first time, although Woods performed as though his five-month hiatus never happened. He broke par all four rounds, closed with a 69 and tied for fourth with South Korea's K.J. Choi, five shots behind.

For Westwood, this was his best chance at winning a major, but he failed to make putts to stay in range.

"Phil being the champion he is hit some great shots coming down the stretch," said Westwood, who closed with a 71 for his best finish ever in a major. "He's been through hard times recently, and he deserves a break or two."

Anthony Kim closed with a 65, the best score of the tournament, and finished alone in third.

Mickelson became the eighth player with at least three Masters titles, and it was the fourth major of his career, breaking out of a pack that had included South Africa's Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington of Ireland and Fiji's Vijay Singh from his generation.

Woods offset a few signature moments with some poor putting, none more shocking than a three-putt from 6 feet on the 14th hole.

"I finished fourth. It's not what I wanted," Woods said in a terse interview with CBS Sports analyst Peter Kostis. "I wanted to win this tournament. As the week went on, I kept hitting the ball worse."

Asked about his dour mood as his game got away from him, Woods said, "People are making way too much of a deal on this." He also said he did not know when he would return, saying he needed time off to evaluate.

Mickelson was the only player among the top 10 to play without a bogey in the final round. Right when it looked like it might slip away from him, Lefty came through with two par saves from the trees on No. 9 and No. 10, then pulled away with the clutch 9-iron on the 12th to 15 feet behind the hole.

Woods teased with contention by making two eagles in one round for the second time this week. Most of the day, however, he was always too many shots back to scare anyone.

He was seven shots behind walking down the seventh fairway, then holed out for eagle to begin an eagle-birdie-birdie run that put him within three shots. Woods hit a tree from the middle of a small forest to the right of the 11th fairway, and just when it looked as though he would make a great escape, he missed a 5-foot par putt.

His hopes ended on the 14th when he missed a slick 6-foot birdie putt, then reached over to tap it in and missed that one. Even with an eagle on the 15th, his Masters was over.

Whatever doubts there are about Woods as a person, his golf doesn't appear to be suffering. It was his first competition in five months, his first time in public since he became tabloid fodder for his rampant infidelity. Yet he performed as if he had never been gone.

Choi's only consolation was going all four rounds with Woods at Augusta and matching his score. He wanted much more, and for the longest time was poised to give Asia successive majors following Y.E. Yang's win at the PGA Championship.

He unraveled on the 13th, a hole where he had made birdie the previous three rounds. From the fairway, he tugged his approach into the back bunker, leaving him a frightening shot down a steep slope toward Rae's Creek. He barely got it out of the sand, then three-putted for a bogey. Another bogey followed on the 14th.

Kim, who set a Masters record last year with 11 birdies in the second round, came out of nowhere. He played a four-hole stretch starting on the 13th in only 11 shots-an eagle and three birdies-and finished with two strong pars to post at 12-under 276.