Masters 2011 Video: Flashback to Phil Mickelson's 2010 Masters Moment

Lefty Earns Third Green Jacket With Great Closing Round

Every Masters Tournament is special, but last year's was unique. That week in Augusta, Georgia, the two biggest stars in the golf world were battling two very difficult personal hardships.

Tiger Woods, only a few months removed from his much-publicized marital scandal, was returning to the golf course for the first time in the 2010 season. Meanwhile, Phil Mickelson's wife and mother were both battling breast cancer.

Despite all that was weighing on their minds, the two golf legends were magnificent. After shooting a four-under 68, Woods stayed under par for the remainder of the event and entered Sunday tied for third. But three bogeys on the first five holes put him in trouble, and Woods was unable to overcome them, finishing fourth with a three-under 69.

Mickelson, who shot a five-under 67 to climb into second place heading into the final round, didn't stumble out of the gate. In the final pairing, he shot a one-under par on the front nine before firing a blistering 32 on the back nine to steal the lead from his playing partner, Lee Westwood.

And—just as he had six years earlier, when he won his first major title at the 2004 Masters—Mickelson capped off the championship by sinking a birdie putt on the 72nd hole to close out Westwood.

An emotional Mickelson walked off the green to embrace his three children and wife Amy, who he was surprised to see.

"I wasn't sure if she was going to be there," Mickelson said. "In the last year, we've been through a lot and it's been tough. And to be on the other end and feel this kind of jubilation is incredible."

"It's been such an incredible week, an emotional week," Mickelson added. "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."