Masters Third Round: Phil 'The Thrill' Mickelson Steals the Show from Tiger

For better or worse, this was Tiger's Masters.

He was the story. He still may be the story. But, in the third round, Tiger was just solid, instead of spectacular.

Phil Mickelson, however, stole the show with the best three-hole stretch in Master's history.

For better or worse, Mickelson is the most electrifying golfer on the tour. Not only is he a charismatic crowd-pleaser, also he is not afraid to be aggressive. He will get more birdies than most golfers, but also more bogeys.

It seemed that no one was up to mounting a serious challenge to Lee Westwood. He had a five-shot lead on Mickelson as Lefty headed onto the 13th hole.

Then magic happened. The kind of magic that can only happen at Augusta.

Phil eagled 13, a spectacular hole of golf, but nothing out of the ordinary for Phil. This closed the gap to nine.

Then, a few minutes later, he was in good position to follow up that eagle with a birdie on 14.

Lefty had other plans.

He holed out from 140 yards away, causing roars from the crowd at Augusta louder than ever before.

It was the first time a golfer has ever had back-to-back eagles at Augusta. The best two-hole stretch in Masters history.

Then, after nearly holing his third shot on 15 for three straight eagles, Phil tapped in an easy birdie.

In three phenomenal holes, Westwood's lead had evaporated. 

Phil, perhaps the biggest crowd favorite at Augusta, caught lightning in a bottle for three holes.

In his post-round press conference, he was asked:

Q. After the second eagle, did you try to build up on that adrenaline or did you try to calm down and retain your composure?

Phil replied, "I was trying to make a third. I mean, I had 15."

Then after some laughter, Phil continued,  "I thought it was possible that somebody had two in a row, two eagles in a row, but I didn't think anybody had three, and I was trying to go for that. Unfortunately, I pushed that drive behind the trees, and didn't have a chance to go at the green."

That is why so many love Phil Mickelson. If the hole is viewed as a par hole, he tells himself he is going to birdie it. If its viewed as a birdie hole, he is looking to eagle it.

And if he can set a new record while he is at it, that's even better, as far as Lefty is concerned.

Phil is truly one of the most entertaining and likable golfers of all time.

Lefty ended up giving one shot back, with a bogey on 17.

Despite that historic stretch, Lee Westwood did a good job of staying calm, playing his game, and not letting Mickelson's surge affect him.

He birdied 15, and did a good job of saving par on each of the last three holes.

By the end of the day, the final pairing was set. Phil finished at -11, and Westwood at -12.

Tiger is still lurking within striking distance at -8, but 18 of the last 19 Masters' champions have come from the final pairing.

So odds seem to say that Westwood will be claiming his first green jacket and first major victory, or Mickelson will win his third Masters.

But, even with that in mind, Mickelson and Westwood are perfectly capable of posting a poor score.

If they do, Tiger—tied for third—will be right there, poised (potentially) to make a dramatic comeback.

There is no course that captures the sheer wonder of the game of golf like Augusta. Regardless of what transpires, it will be a very compelling final round.

It nearly always is.