Error-free Weir cleans up at Augusta

Mike Weir managed to get through 18 holes without making a bogey. When he finally did, it was good enough to win a green jacket.

Weir needed to make four birdies under the pressure of a Sunday at Augusta National to win the Masters. But it was the gritty way he kept salvaging pars that gave him the chance.

Weir saved his two biggest par putts for the final two holes of regulation, including a 1.8-yard effort on the 18th hole that was the difference between playing some more or accepting the silver medal given the runner-up.

``I wouldn't wish that putt on anyone,'' Weir said. ``That's as nerve-racking as it gets.''

Len Mattiace was already finished at 7-under and waiting for a possible playoff as Weir carefully looked over the putt on the 18th green before a hushed gallery.

He stroked it into the cup, just as he knocked in a 5-footer for par the hole before to keep his hopes alive.

Instead of celebrating, though, he had to walk to the adjacent 10th tee, pull out his driver and go back to work.

``It was probably the biggest shot of my life,'' Weir said.

``It's one of the most difficult things you can have in golf, a putt to tie a major championship.''

Six times in the last seven holes, Weir made putts between 1 and 4.5 yards.

Two were for birdies to get in a tie with Mattiace, while the others were for par to keep him tied.

The only makeable putt he missed all day was a 10-footer for par on the first playoff hole.

By then, it didn't matter because Mattiace had already made a double bogey.

``It was just a gut-wrenching day,'' Weir said. ``A lot of comeback putts that I needed to make and was able to make them.''

It was different for Weir four years ago when he was paired with Tiger Woods in the final round of the PGA Championship, and got an up-close glimpse at how hard it is to win a major championship.

Weir shot 80 that day, leaving Medinah Country Club bitterly disappointed but also eager to learn from the experience.

``It was a very difficult day for me then but, at the same time, I did observe how Tiger managed his victory there,'' Weir said.

``And the clutch putt I remember he made on 17 and how he really stayed with his game.''

A jubilant Weir, who led the rain-hit tournament at the halfway point, become the first left-hander to win a major since New Zealander Bob Charles triumphed at the 1963 British Open.

Phil Mickelson, after a 68, finished third at Augusta for the third year running while Woods, who had been chasing his ninth career major, battled to a 75, and had to settle for a share of 15th at two-over 290.

The 35-year-old Mattiace, who missed the cut in his only previous Masters appearance in 1988, set up his victory hopes with a superb eagle at the par-five 13th, and then birdied 15 and 16 before bogeying the last.

But, almost immediately, Weir holed a five-foot birdie putt at the 500-yard 15th to draw level with Mattiace at the top of the leaderboard, and parred the final three holes to force the playoff.

American Jim Furyk, who closed with a 68, secured fourth spot at 4-under while third-round leader Jeff Maggert fought back from a triple-bogey at the par-four third to card a 75 for fifth at two under more than pay his way.

Woods, four off the pace overnight, made an early birdie but then crashed down the leaderboard with a double-bogey six at the par-four third, followed by further dropped shots at four, seven and eight.