Game On

His worthy adversary, maestro Mickelson, with his bright eyes and his dimples and his accessible caddie, who called the Sunday round "the most fun I've ever had on a golf course," was in no rush to leave, even if he was not going to the members' Sunday-night dinner for the new winner. Yes, a simple back nine—seven pars and two birdies on the short par-5s—would have earned him a spot in the playoff, but what the hell. He's done a lot in the game, and he'll do more.

He sat in the Masters Club Room reserved for past champions, ate a burger, called his three kids (recovering from various maladies) at home in suburban San Diego, watched the playoff on TV and, when it was all over, made a leisurely departure. "I had the time of my life out there," Phil said. "Would I like to have shot a 33 on the back nine? Sure. But it was a great day."

Of course it was. He won.

PGA Tour Confidential: The inside scoop from SI Golf Group writers and editors at GOLF.com/confidential.