‘Is it his time? Yes! At long last!’
As broadcast great Jim Nantz uttered another iconic Masters call, Phil Mickelson jumped for joy as he finally realised his Augusta dream 20 years ago today.
The Masters has had a number of famous moments down the decades and the very best have been accompanied with legendary commentary.
And Mickelson’s trophy-winning birdie on the 18th hole in 2004 is among the most epic.
Phil went into that year’s tournament with a point to prove.
He had already won 22 times on the PGA Tour and had 17 top ten finishes in the majors.
‘Lefty’ had to settle for third three years running at the Masters between 2001 and 2003 and also finished second at the PGA Championship and US Open in those years.
Was he truly good enough to win a major? A question put to him countless times over the first decade of his career but he would soon answer all his critics.
As great rival Tiger Woods laboured to an opening 75 to begin the 68th edition of the Masters, many sensed it could finally be Mickelson’s year, his time to ascend to the upper echelons of elite golf.
He enjoyed an impressive week, carding back-to-back 69s on Friday and Saturday to go into the final round level with Chris DiMarco.
Mickelson would pick up a shot on the second hole on Sunday before disaster struck and he dropped three in his next four to put a serious dent in his chances.
His head scrambled, he would have wait another five holes to hit back and in that time, Ernie Els and Bernhard Langer had moved up the leaderboard.
Memories of previous short-comings and all those questions from the media would surely have been rattling around his brain as he stepped up to the diminutive but daunting 12th Golden Bell.
After seeing DiMarco push his tee short left, Mickelson fired off his 9-iron and landed it just eight feet left of the flag as the grandstand behind erupted.
He duly drained the birdie putt and that opened the floodgates.
He picked up further shots at 13, 14 and 16 and found himself tied for the lead with Els as he reached the 18th green in two.
With 15 feet to go and knowing only a birdie would seal the deal, Mickelson took back his putter, struck it true down the hill and it grab the left edge before dropping.
He leapt into the air in celebration having finally won the event all golfers dream of before hugging caddie Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay and then wife Amy.
The image of his jubilant jump became so iconic that Mickelson himself used it as his own brand logo to immortalise the victory.
And it was one of the most popular wins in Masters history, setting Mickelson on his way to become a force at the top of game.
He now holds 57 career wins including six major titles.
Of course, these days Mickelson plays on the controversial breakaway LIV tour and has somewhat damaged his relationship with his previously adoring fans.
He’ll return to Augusta this week having claimed a brilliant T2 finish last spring and will hope to roll back the years once again.
And while a lot has changed over the past 20 years for old ‘Lefty’, ‘his time’ will forever he etched in the annals of this great championship.
