The quality of the leaderboard after round one set the tone for the tournament as a whole. Tiger Woods, playing in his first tournament since his extra-marital affairs came to light, opened with a four under 68 - the first time he had recorded an opening round in the 60s at Augusta National. 2009 PGA Champion Y.E. Yang started the major with aplomb, shooting 67 to sit alongside Phil Mickelson - who won his first major at Augusta six years previously - Lee Westwood, K.J. Choi and Tom Watson. Eight-time major champion Watson showed that class is permanent, making five birdies and no bogeys despite recently celebrating his 60th birthday.

They all however trailed another Champions Tour member after Fred Couples struck 66 to lead by one shot heading into Friday.

Day two saw the rise of the English, as Ian Poulter and Westwood reached the top of the leaderboard. Poulter recorded a successive 68 and Westwood 69 to open up a two shot cushion on the field.

Overnight leader Couples and Watson both fell back on day two, but Mickelson shot a steady if unspectacular 71 - despite missing a one foot putt on the fifth hole - to head into the weekend on six under. He was joined by Woods (70) and Choi (71), who both own tremendous records around Augusta National.

The weekend saw fireworks, thanks to the ever-entertaining crowd pleaser Mickelson. Mickelson started the third round with birdies at two and three but was unable to build on his fast start.

After a bogey at the treacherous 10th he was just one under for the round, but exploded into life at the 13th and became only the third ever golfer to have back-to-back eagles at Augusta National. He rolled in an eight foot putt for eagle on the par 5 13th and had 139 yards left for his approach on the 14th. His nine iron pitched past the flag and spun back into the cup for an eagle two. On the next hole, the par 5 15th, he almost made it three in a row. Having laid up short of the pond, his beautifully controlled wedge was inches away from settling in the bottom of the cup.

He three putted 17 however and would go into Sunday one behind Westwood; another imperious display from tee to green leading to a 68, a third successive round in the 60s and a twelve-under-par total with one round to go. Woods and Choi were in a tie for third on eight under heading into Sunday.

Mickelson's closing 67 was a joy that will be remember predominantly for one shot. It was a steady start for the American, who parred the first seven holes before a birdie at 8 saw him turn in one under par. Westwood got off to an inauspicious start. The man from Worksop turned in one over par to trade places with Mickelson.

The leaders failed to set the course alight on the front nine, something that Anthony Kim was doing on the back end. He birdied the 13th and 14th before an eagle on 15 was followed by another birdie on 16.

Unfortunately for Kim his run coincided with Phil Mickelson picking up the pace, encapsulated by one of greatest shots in the history of the Masters and, indeed, any major championship. He birdied the difficult par 3 12th, before his drive at the par 5 13th found the trees having failed to impart sufficient side spin to slice the ball around the corner.

When you saw the lie and the gap, you hoped he would take it on. There was a chance, given the way Mickelson plays the game. If attempted he has the skill to pull it off. But few would expect the player to go for it on the 67th hole of a Major Championship. This is why Mickelson is so popular: he plays the game for himself and refuses to play the percentage. As soon as it was confirmed that the gap was big enough, we all hoped that Mickelson would reject the advice of Bones to leave it short of the stream.

What was to follow became golfing folklore. Mickelson produced an astonishing six iron to within six feet of the hole, but missed the putt - a microcosmic example of why we love Phil Mickelson.

He would follow birdie at 13 with two more on 15 and 18. Westwood valiantly birdied 13 but ultimately couldn't catch Mickelson, who won his third green jacket and fourth major championship. It was a brilliant final round from Mickelson and a mesmerising end to the event considered the best on the golfing calendar.