Some view it as one of his endearing characteristics. Others consider it his fatal flaw.

To Phil Mickelson, the cup is always half full.

Even in the wake of what might appear to be wrenching defeats, Mickelson prefers to accentuate the positive. He did it again Sunday after coming up painfully short in his latest quest to win the Masters Tournament.

"You can't look at success in wins and losses," said Mickelson, who finished third at the Masters for the third-straight year. "You have to look at success on your own terms."

Some professional golfers - particularly Tiger Woods - don't view it in those terms. A loss means devastation, no matter how well they play.

Mickelson, a 32-year-old who is still in search of his first major championship victory, saw his 11th Masters appearance as an accomplishment - and it was hard to blame him.

If scoring were the only indicator, Mickelson did what he set out to do Sunday by shooting 68. It was the first time he broke 70 in the final round of the Masters.

He began the day in a tie for fifth at 1-under par, four strokes behind Jeff Maggert.

"Heading into today, I thought a 68 would do it," said Mickelson, who has finished in the top 12 at the Masters eight times in the past nine years.

He wasn't counting on 65 from Len Mattiace. And he was hoping for something worse than 68 from Mike Weir, who beat Mattiace on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.

"Mike Weir and Len Mattiace ran away with it," he said. "I can't control what they do, but I thought that I played well today and I'm very pleased with 68. So I'm not going to worry about whether it was enough or not."

Mickelson moved to 2-under after an improbable birdie on the par-5 second hole, but he didn't go any lower until birdie on No. 13 put him at 3-under. Another birdie at No. 15 meant Mickelson could make things interesting on the last three holes, but he could only manage pars on the next two. His 30-foot birdie putt on 18 was academic.

Mickelson said he's planning to take the next two weeks off to spend time with his family. His son, Evan Samuel, is three weeks old, and his family is still adjusting at home in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.

When he returns, Mickelson should have plenty of confidence for the rest of the year. He came to the Masters unsure how he would perform after playing poorly and missing the cut at last week's BellSouth Classic.

So while some might consider third place to be third-rate, Mickelson thinks he finally achieved something despite going home without a green jacket.

He didn't mount a Sunday charge. But he didn't sink into a Sunday slumber, either.

And, for now at least, that's good enough for Mickelson.

"I'm feeling very comfortable going into the major championships now," he said. "I know that if I just go out and play, I'm going to have a shot on Masters Sunday. It's fun to have a chance at winning, and I played very well."