Augusta green will enhance any golfer's complexion. It already had for Phil Mickelson.

His Masters win two years ago was a career-changer, a much-awaited first major championship that inducted him into the elite society he seemed preordained to join. A second green jacket puts him in an even more select group.

One of 16 players to have won more than one Masters Tournament, Mickelson now has two in three years.

But more significant than history is how Sunday repositioned him for the time being, making over his persona as decidedly as his rsum.

Mickelson, having chased moments like this so hard for so long, is now the one being chased.

Tiger Woods is still the best player in the world. He's ranked No. 1. He's the most talented. And he'll be the favorite in most majors.

But for the first time, Mickelson is putting together a Woodsian run of his own, making him the one to beat.

He has now won two consecutive majors and three of nine. After creating ways to lose the biggest tournaments, he has developed the calmer approach and consistency to keep winning them.

"I'm having the best time playing golf right now and being able to compete for major championships,'' said Mickelson, whose 7-under par total left him two shots ahead of Tim Clark. "And to win a couple is an amazing feeling."

Nearly half of the players who made the cut started the final round within striking distance of the lead.

But of the many stories that could have come out of Sunday, the two most intriguing involved the two biggest names in golf.

After taking the lead in the completion of the third round Sunday morning, could Mickelson hold on?

Or, could Woods earn his first major win while coming from behind?

One did. One didn't. And it wasn't close.

"I felt today was the day,'' said Woods, who has led entering the final round in all 10 of his major victories. "He played the way he needed to play with the lead going into the final round.''

Even if Woods had done more than shoot 70 in which he left shots all over the course, Mickelson would not have given him a chance.

In fact, he didn't allow anybody an opening in a final round that started with four Masters champions in the final four twosomes and 10 major winners within six shots of the lead.

All day long, players with a shot to win gave them away. Mickelson, meanwhile, saved himself with chips close to the hole and 3-footers into the center of it any time he didn't hit exceptional approaches.

This win wasn't as flashy as his first here, when he shot 31 on Augusta's back nine and birdied the last hole. But he was as seamless as a Masters champion has ever been in Sunday's mistake-free 69.

And, on another Sunday in Augusta when anything could have happened, what did happen was appropriate: The guy who played the best won.

Reach Tim Guidera at (912) 652-0352 or tim.guidera@savannahnow.com.