© Sam Greenwood/Augusta National

Phil Mickelson knew the Green Jacket would fit perfectly. He’s had it on before.

Mickelson also knew he could fit that 6-iron shot through a gap in the towering pines at the 13th hole.

He was right on both counts.

Mickelson’s second shot at the par 5 13th is one that will be recorded in the annuals of Masters history. There were plenty of stunning shots by Mickelson over 72 holes as he won the Masters for the third time Sunday, but it is that swing and that result that will be most talked about.

It paved the way for Mickelson to shoot a third 67 at Augusta National Golf Club for a three shot victory over Lee Westwood.

Mickelson’s weekend rounds -- a pair of 5-under-par 67s -- rivaled the finest back-to-back rounds in Tournament history, and elevated Mickelson into the elite tier of Masters champions.

The left-hander became the eighth man to win three Masters titles, and only the fifth to do it in a span of seven years. The others were Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Sam Snead and Arnold Palmer. Only Nicklaus (6), Palmer (4) and Woods (4) have won the Masters more often.

Mickelson also becomes the only active PGA Tour golfer besides Woods with four major victories to their credit. Mickelson also won the PGA Championship in 2005.

Mickelson first won a Green Jacket, symbolic of victory in the Masters, in 2004 and repeated two years later. But he has never played better at Augusta National than he did this time in shooting 67-71-67-67—272, a 16-under-par total.

He was a combined 16-under-par in his first two victories -- and, astonishingly, matched that total this year. Mickelson won with a 279 total in 2004, 9-under par, and 281 total, 7-under par, in 2006.

England’s Lee Westwood, the 54-hole leader, finished three shots behind. He closed with 71 for a 275 total. Anthony Kim (65-276) was third, followed by Woods (69-277).

Mickelson dedicated the victory to his wife, Amy, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in May, 2009. A couple of months later, Mickelson’s mother, Mary, was also diagnosed with breast cancer.

“It’s been an amazing week,” said Mickelson, as emotion began to overtake him. “This has been a very special day. To have Amy and my kids here to share it with, I can’t put it into words.

“We’ve been through a lot this year and it means a lot to share some joy together. She’s an incredible wife and incredible mother and has been an inspiration for me this past year, seeing what she’s been through. To cap it off with this victory, I can’t put it into words, but it’s something we’ll share and remember the rest of our lives.”

While Mickelson said he’s been pleased with his game, the results have been indifferent this year. In his last two tournaments, he tied for 30th and 35th. Not exactly what he had in mind coming to Augusta National.

But as a past champion who was making his 18th appearance at Augusta National -- and now has 10 top 10s in addition to his three victories -- Mickelson knows the course and knows how best to play it. But he has never before played it this well.

The signature shot of his victory at the 13th, where he drove into the right rough, behind a pine tree and onto the pine straw.

Mickelson had 207 left to the green. He debated the club choice -- a 5-iron or 6-iron -- and went with the 6-iron.

“I had a good lie in the pine needles,” he said. “I was going to have to go through that gap if I laid up or went for the green. I was going to have to hit a decent shot. The gap was a little bit wider ‑‑ it wasn't huge, but it was big enough for a ball to fit through.”

Mickelson smiled when he said it.

The ball finished four feet from the hole, a remarkable result. He missed the putt but had a tap-in for birdie.

“I just felt like at that time, I needed to trust my swing and hit a shot, and it came off perfect,” he said.

How big was the gap?

“Oh, it wasn't as tight ‑‑ you can go out there and see,” he said. “There was a good four or five feet I thought between them, and it was close, it's not like it had to stay in that area for a long time. It was right in front of me. I just needed to make a decent swing.”

Mickelson said again that there’s something special about Augusta National and how it fits his game and his mood.

“I’m very relaxed here at Augusta National because you don't have to be perfect,” he said. “I've hit a lot of great shots and driven the ball very well, but I've made some bad swings on 9, 10 and 11 and I was able to salvage par. I was able to get the ball, advance it far enough down by the green where my short game could take over, and salvage par. That's why I feel so comfortable here and I'm relaxed when I drive down Magnolia Lane because I know that I don't have to play perfect golf.”

But if Mickelson’s golf wasn’t flawless at Augusta National, it was close.

It helped immensely that Mickelson arrived in an optimistic frame of mind.

“I felt like I was playing this well starting the year,” he said. “I just haven't had the results, whatever it was. Maybe I didn't putt well. Maybe I made some mistakes and couldn't recover, hitting it in the water and what-not. I wasn't discouraged. I felt actually very confident heading in here but certainly I wanted to have some confidence and wins and getting into contention and so forth.

“But when I get here to Augusta, like I say, I get very relaxed and feel very comfortable here and I'm in love with this place and it brings out the best in me.”

No doubt about that.

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