Len Mattiace said that, after the crushing disappointment wears off, he might be more able to appreciate just how well he played in the final round of the Masters Tournament on Sunday.

"I did a great job of focusing on each shot, playing each hole, and under the utmost pressure," Mattiace saidafter his closing 65 was marred only by a bogey on the 18th hole - a bogey that left the door ajar for Mike Weir.

"The crowd was great; I made some putts and executed some shots," Mattiace went on. "That's all you can ask."

Yes, Mattiace did butcher the 18th hole.

And yes, Mattiace did pull his second shot in the playoff, leave himself with no chance to get the ball close to the hole and finish the Masters with the ball in his hand.

But Mattiace electrified the Augusta galleries with a round that was one shot from matching the record for the best Sunday score of 64.

He began the day at even-par, five shots behind leader Jeff Maggert. Mattiace made fairly routine birdies where he should have - at the par-5 second hole and the 350-yard, par-4 third hole.

Then he made a birdie far from routine - a 30-yard chip from behind a mound and into the hole at the par-5 eighth. That got him to 3-under and, at the time, two shots off a lead Weir held.

It was the turning point for Mattiace.

"I was very lucky and very fortunate for that ball to go in," Mattiace said. "I was looking at 6 and made 4. I kind of chalked that up as a lucky break, and kept going."

Mattiace birdied the 10th hole on a 50-foot putt, smiling with astonishment when the ball dived into the hole.

"A great feeling to see the ball go in," he said. He was at 4-under, one shot behind Weir.

Mattiace then went for broke at the par-5 13th, hitting what he said was his best drive of the week. Mattiace clobbered a 4-wood that landed on the crest of the bank above the water, then rolled to within 10 feet of the hole. He rammed it in for eagle.

"That (second shot) was 1 yard away from going in the water," Mattiace said. "Crazy stuff."

That put him at 6-under, one shot ahead of Weir.

After par at No. 14, Mattiace again went for a par-5 green in two shots at No. 15. His shot rolled to the back fringe, and he got up-and-down.

The birdie moved to 7-under for a two-shot lead.

Mattiace landed his tee shot at the par-3 16th to 10 feet and made his sixth birdie.

That bumped him to 8-under.

Mattiace said he was focused, but allowed himself a few grins, acknowledged the crowd and even took a fist-bump from playing partner Jonathan Byrd after the eagle at No. 13.

"It's a great thing to know that you've executed your game plan and everything came together," Mattiace said. "I was very happy inside with the completion of my mission."