Ernie Els (Stats | Bio) had a sense this was going to be his year to win the Masters Tournament. It had to be his year.

Look at what he did on No. 13. Usually a disaster hole for Els, he posted an eagle on the par-5 to take a three-shot lead against Phil Mickelson (Stats | Bio) . That had to be the ultimate sign, right?

"I just felt it from Thursday," said Els, who shot 5-under-par 67 in Sunday's round to finish the tournament at 8-under 280, just one shot off Mickelson's winning total. "I just didn't quite get my game going the first couple of days. I think the whole week was like that. I was kind of starting and stopping, starting and stopping. I just couldn't quite break loose and play my game."

He was referring to the first 61 holes. The last 11 holes could hardly have gone smoother.

He eagled No. 8 to claim the lead from Mickelson, and eagled No. 13 and birdied No. 15 to force Mickelson to hunt him down for the green jacket.

"I gave myself a chance almost every hole," Els said. "My putting didn't want to work, and that's that. But I played well. I've had some good wins, and I've had some tough losses. This is one of those tough losses. You win some; you lose some. I'm going to look at myself in the mirror tonight and say, 'Well done.'"

He could watch the Masters replay on television and say the same thing.

On the par-5 No. 8, Els hit a driver and, with 212 yards to the hole, hooked a 5-iron around the trees to get the ball within 5 feet. From there, it was just an easy putt for the eagle.

He was at it again on the par-5 13th - his hole of misery in 2002, when he carded an eight to push himself out of contention. Off the tee with a 3-wood, he nailed a 6-iron from 205 yards to put the ball within 10 feet and set up another easy putt for eagle.

"I gave it my best shot," Els said. "I'm very disappointed now, but I'll get over this, no problem. I still feel like I'll win a major this year. I would have loved to have won this one. But I'll have another shot. I'll have another shot."

Els has won three majors, two U.S. Opens and one British Open. Even through the disappointment, Els could take solace in the fact that he made Mickelson sweat for his first major.

"He was really making a move," Mickelson said. "This wasn't one of those things that was going to fall in your lap. I thought maybe (Els) would lose one coming in. But he never lost. I had to catch him with birdies."

Said Els: "I was trying to push. I was just trying to keep going. I was hitting the ball very solid. I was feeling so good out there, I felt I could have birdied every hole the way I was playing."

He just couldn't birdie the 18th. Hitting into the fairway bunker after his drive, Els hit the ball within 14 feet of the cup with a chance to get to 9-under. But his birdie putt wouldn't fall.

"I had a good run there," Els said. "But it wasn't meant to be. It wasn't meant to be."

Reach Josh Katzowitz at (706) 823-3216 or josh.katzowitz@augustachronicle.com.