Watch the complete final round broadcast of the 2010 Masters. Phil Mickelson wins his third Green Jacket, by three strokes over Lee Westwood.
The Thrilling Triumph of Phil Mickelson at the 2010 Masters Tournament
The 2010 Masters Tournament, the 74th edition of this prestigious golf event, unfolded from April 8th to April 11th at the illustrious Augusta National Golf Club.
It was a tournament filled with suspense, remarkable performances, and a triumphant comeback.
In the end, Phil Mickelson emerged victorious, clinching his third Masters and fourth major title, finishing three shots ahead of the runner-up, Lee Westwood.
The Par 3 Contest
Before the tournament’s official start, the Par 3 Contest set the stage for some unexpected excitement.
Louis Oosthuizen secured victory with an impressive 6-under par 21.
What made this event even more remarkable was the two holes-in-one recorded during the contest, both occurring on the 9th hole.
Graeme McDowell and Jim Furyk achieved this feat, foreshadowing the success they would later find in the golfing world.
Graeme McDowell went on to win the U.S. Open, Oosthuizen triumphed at The Open Championship, and Furyk clinched the 2010 FedEx Cup.
The First Round
Thursday, April 8, 2010, marked the official start of the tournament.
The day began with sunny skies, but there was a hint of impending thunderstorms.
Tiger Woods’ much-anticipated return to the Masters started on a high note, as he shot a 4-under 68.
This marked the first time Woods had ever shot a first-round score in the 60s at the Masters, setting a positive tone for his campaign.
However, the day’s most compelling story revolved around two Champions Tour players – 60-year-old Tom Watson and 50-year-old Fred Couples.
They displayed remarkable prowess by carding scores of 67 and 66, respectively.
Major champions Phil Mickelson and Y.E. Yang trailed one stroke behind leader Couples, joined by Lee Westwood, K. J. Choi, and Watson in the mix.
The Second Round
On Friday, April 9, 2010, Phil Mickelson demonstrated his resilience by shooting a 1-under 71, despite the unusual miss of a 1-foot putt on Hole 5.
Meanwhile, Fred Couples and Tom Watson, who had impressed in the opening round, couldn’t maintain their momentum.
Englishmen Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter emerged as the leaders heading into the weekend.
Second Round Leaderboard:
-8
– Ian Poulter: 68-68=136
– Lee Westwood: 67-69=136
-6
– Ricky Barnes: 68-70=138
– K. J. Choi: 67-71=138
– Anthony Kim: 68-70=138
– Phil Mickelson: 67-71=138
– Tiger Woods: 68-70=138
The Third Round
As the tournament advanced into the third round on Saturday, April 10, 2010, Lee Westwood continued to display his consistent play, maintaining his lead.
Phil Mickelson, however, stole the spotlight with a remarkable round of 67, highlighted by a dramatic sequence of eagle-eagle-birdie on holes 13, 14, and 15.
This propelled him into second place, three strokes behind Westwood.
Third Round Leaderboard:
-12 Lee Westwood: 67-69-68=204
-11 Phil Mickelson: 67-71-67=205
-8 K. J. Choi: 67-71-70=208
Tiger Woods: 68-70-70=208
-7 Fred Couples: 66-75-68=209
The Final Round
The stage was set for an exhilarating final round on Sunday, April 11, 2010.
Fred Couples made an early charge with two birdies in the first three holes, but he couldn’t maintain the momentum, finishing in sixth place.
Lee Westwood, the overnight leader, had a rocky start, while Phil Mickelson maintained his composure, parrying his first seven holes.
The competition remained intense, with K. J. Choi briefly sharing the lead at -12 after a birdie on the 10th hole.
However, he eventually fell back to a tie for fourth place alongside playing partner Tiger Woods, who they had been paired together with throughout the tournament.
A standout performance came from the twenty-four-year-old Anthony Kim, who shot a scintillating 65, including a remarkable -5 run over four holes, securing a third-place finish.
In the end, it was Phil Mickelson who shone the brightest, pulling away from Lee Westwood with a bogey-free final round of 67.
This stellar performance secured Mickelson’s third Masters victory and his fourth major title, marking a memorable chapter in the storied history of the Masters Tournament.
