(Follow Tom Spousta all week for real-time coverage of the Masters. Tom has written about golf for USA Today, the New York Times and other national publications.

8:00 In the end, the tenacity of Angel Cabrera defined this, one of the great Masters finishes. Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods provided the buildup for this drama, pushing themselves and their competitors to even greater heights. Cabrera, Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell responded, dueling until twilight's long shadows stretched across Augusta National. Cabrera birdied Nos. 15 and 16 and refused to back down even as Perry matched his birdies on those holes. Missteps by Perry at Nos. 17 and 18 created a tie at 12 under. Campbell also made birdie at No. 15 and parred home, setting the stage for Cabrera's historic playoff victory.

7:48 At this moment, Cabrera is standing up and Trevor Immelman is putting the Green Jacket on him. "I want to thank all the patrons who are always with us ... This is a great moment, the dream of every golfer to win the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. I am so emotional, I can barely talk," Cabrera said. "I dedicate this victory to my wife and my family. This victory is for them ..."

7:41 What a scene, Cabrera leading a procession of golf dignitaries out for the Green Jacket presentation. He looks a little emotional. You can tell he must be thinking how, 41 years ago, De Vicenzo should have been sitting in that exact spot. But now, Cabrera and Argentina has a Masters title!

7:37 Cabrera was quick to pay tribute to Roberto De Vicenzo, a hero in Argentina who signed a wrong scorecard in 1968, an error that kept him from donning the Green Jacket. Now Cabrera has two majors and is the golfing hero of Argentina.

7:33 Cabrera said the charges by Mickelson and Woods motivated him heading into the back nine. "I felt when Tiger and Phil were making birdies and a move, I felt I had to make a move myself," Cabrera said.

7:26 Cabrera never faltered. He seemed energized after that second shot on No. 18 clunked a tree and bounced back into the fairway. He's now in the Butler Cabin and ready to put on the Green Jacket.

7:21 Angel Cabrera has two putts to win the Masters and bring a Green Jacket home to Argentina. He wins his second major in a two-hole playoff, beating Kenny Perry.

7:18 Cabrera ripped his drive on 10 down the middle and hit the green, has 20-footer for birdie. Perry missed the green to the left and his chip ran 22 feet past the hole.

7:15 Perry made a great chip after missing the green and tapped in for par. Chad Campbell made bogey after hitting into a greenside bunker. He missed a 5-footer that caught a piece of the right lip. Perry and Cabrera move to No. 10.

7:13 Cabrera put his drive in the right trees, hit a tree with his second shot, and the ball kicked back in the 18th fairway. A huge break in his favor. He knocked it on the green and sank a 10 footer for a great par.

6:45 Perry misses inches to the left. Playoff at the Masters. Kenny Perry, Chad Campbell and Angel Cabrera, tied at 12 under 276, will now go to the 18th hole.

6:43 Perry did all he could. He stopped the shot 15 feet past the hole. Has that putt to win the Masters. If he misses, and Cabrera makes his short par putt, a three-way playoff with Campbell would begin on No. 18.

6:41 Cabrera came off his iron shot and left it short right. Perry has a 7-iron out of the bunker ... he pulled it left, shortsiding himself against the pin location. Ball is on a downslope, he doesn't have much green to work with ... very tough chip.

6:35 Perry ripped his drive into the first fairway bunker. Very tough approach. Cabrera split the fairway. Campbell missed his birdie try ... he shoots 69 and is leader in the clubhouse at 12 under.

6:32 Perry just made bogey, he's at 13 under. Campbell has a 22-footer to tie at No. 18. Remember Mark O'Meara in 1998? Same putt. Campbell can put the pressure on if he sinks it.

6:27 Perry's chip scooted across the green, caught the slope and rolled to the front fringe. He'll do well to save bogey. Cabrera made a great chip, tap in par. Told you it's not over!

6:18 But Cabrera will not quit. He drained his 14 footer for birdie at No. 16 and is at 12 under. He bombed his drive in the fairway at No. 17, and Perry just hit his approach a little long on the hole.

6:13 Kenny Perry just hit one of the greatest shots in Masters history. He launched an 8 iron at No. 16 and the ball never left the flagstick. He knew it right away, too, and walked confidently after his shot, eyes never leaving the green. Seconds later, the ball landed and trickled within inches of the hole. A tap-in birdie that puts him at 14 under and two holes away from realizing the pinnacle of his career.

6:09 So here it is, three holes to play: Perry 13 under, Campbell 12 under, Cabrera 11 under. It's still anybody's Green Jacket.

6:04 A crucial 40-footer for Perry at No. 15 for eagle. He's got it to about 3 feet. He makes it for a one shot lead at 13 under. About 200 yards away at No. 16, Campbell has his birdie try to tie. High drama.

6:00 Vivek A, India ... Thanks. It's not over, though. How about Chad Campbell, his clutch birdie on 15, and now he hits it about 8 feet on 16. Kenny Perry refuses to be rattled by any of it. Cabrera isn't out of it, either.

5:42 Woods misses, bogey. He shoots 68 and finishes at 8 under. Mickelson hit into the bunker off 18 tee, missed the green short and couldn't save par. He shoots 67 and finishes at 9 under. A great showdown, but both rallies fell just short.

5:40 Perry three-putted 13 for par to stay 12 under. Had an impossible eagle putt from back of the green. Cabrera two-putted for birdie to reach 10 under. It's down to those two and Campbell (11 under).

5:34 Woods put his drive right in the trees at No. 18. He hit a tree with his second shot, which deflected into the 10th fairway. He's got a 12 footer for par.

5:26 The 17th has been Tiger's nemesis. That was his fifth bogey there in the final round in the last eight years.

5:25 Tee shot cost Tiger at No. 17. He misses 10 footer and makes bogey. Phil misses short birdie putt left. Looks like Phil and Tiger have run out of holes.

5:18 Kenny Perry drains putt at No. 12 from just off the back of the green! He's 12 under. Phil zeroes in another iron at No. 17, this one 5 feet. Tiger was blocked out and misses green to the right at No. 17.

5:11 Here we go, Masters stretch run: Perry at 11 under, Woods and Mickelson tied at 10 under, with Chad Campbell. Cabrera still at 9 under. Woods in left rough, Mickelson down the middle at No. 17.

5:08 Maybaum L, Spain ... Not sure if that's going to be enough! Kenny Perry missed birdie at No. 11 by less than an inch. Phil pars at No. 16. Tiger drains his birdie putt!

5:04 Brandon A, Greece ... Gee, tough place to be stranded, huh?! Woods just rifled tee ball at No. 16 to 4 feet! Mickelson rips one over the flag and has about 14 feet for birdie.

5:00 Mickelson pushes eagle putt wide left! This after Woods nearly made his for eagle. Both tap in for birdie. Phil at 10 under, Tiger at 9 under. It's like they're in their old universe and taking golf and the Masters to another level. Still need help from the leaders, though.

4:56 Phil fires an iron at the flag and puts it about 5 feet for eagle! Tiger also on in two, has about a 30 footer. Great duel that's surely resonating back toward the leaders.

4:52 Phil crushed his drive past Tiger on No. 15. Both in the middle of the fairway and going for green in two.

4:48 John Merrick, a Masters rookie from Long Beach, Calif., had four birdies on the back nine, shot 66 and is the leader in the clubhouse at 8 under par.

4:45 Mickelson's birdie putt looked like it was in, but lipped out. Tiger made par. Huge decision coming up on 15 ... both need birdies, if not an eagle. Got to hit the fairway first.

4:38 David stuck in Brazil ... Hope you get unstuck. We've got the leaders edging back a bit. Kenny Perry just saved par with a 10-footer at No. 9 after blasting from the left front bunker. Nine pars in a row to stay at 11 under. Campbell and Cabrera at 10 under. Woods' approach at No. 14 hit the green, but caught the slope and rolled back down. Mickelson has a 10 footer for birdie there.

4:33 Campbell bogeyed No. 9 to drop to 10 under. Furyk double-bogeyed No. 9 with a poor chip shot (now at 7 under). Both Woods and Mickelson had long eagle putts at No. 13 and tapped in for birdies. And they took long looks at the leader board while walking to the 14th tee.

4:29 Andy D, USA ... There was nothing there that violated any rules.

4:24 Meanwhile, back at the top of the leader board ... Campbell is cruising along, made birdie at No. 3 and 8 and is tied for the lead at 11 under with Perry, who hasn't budged with seven pars in a row.

4:21 It's never easy being a Phil Fan. He just double-bogeyed No. 12. Chipped on the green and missed a 10 footer. Tiger made par. He's at 7 under, one behind Phil.

4:14 Phil just pulled it at No. 12, hit it heavy, shot landed on the bank and rolled in Rae's Creek! The mistake he could not afford to make. You could hear the groan from the patrons all across the course.

4:08 Moment of truth has arrived for Phil and Tiger. Amen Corner. Winds aren't too bad, but it always swirls and gusts at No. 12. Both need to go for No. 13 on their second shots -- if they hit good drives. The 15th could decide both their fates, too.

4:05 Nerves might be starting to show. Kenny Perry missed a 4-footer for birdie at No. 7. Still, he's started with seven straight pars and he leads the Masters by one stroke.

3:58 Steve S, USA ... Caddies are assigned a number for the Tournament. Numbers are listed on each day's pairings and starting times.

3:43 So far, we're witnessing one of the great Masters. But the saying that the Tournament doesn't begin until the back nine is so true. Cabrera is in serious trouble at No. 5 ... he just made his second bogey in a row. El Pato (the Duck) has dropped to 10 under, tied with Campbell and Mickelson.

3:38 Woods saves par, shoots 33 on front. He's at 7 under. Mickelson has a wicked sliding right to left putt ... he makes it. Shoots 30, tying the Masters record for best front nine ever. He's a 10 under.

3:29 Lee M, Spain ... Nothing between them. Except great golf. Both are in their own confident zones. Phil is in the right trees at No. 9. Very dangerous approach shot coming up. He put it in the left front bunker. Has a chance still for par. Woods missed the green to the right.

3:25 At No. 9 now. Both hit their tee shots right. Mickelson can break or tie front nine record at Augusta National, which is 30, by Johnny Miller in 1975, Greg Norman in 1988 and K.J. Choi in 2004.

3:23 Woods has a great eagle chance (30 feet) at the par 5 eighth ... He drills it home! Woods goes to 7 under. Mickelson has a short birdie (5 feet) putt ... He drains it! Phil is at 10 under, two back of Cabrera.

3:18 Al V, Norway ... Cabrera just birdied No. 3 to reach 12 under. Perry has made three pars in a row. Both look steady, but they surely have to know Mickelson is charging. The electric roars are right in their faces on the front nine.

3:15 The front nine is considered the most difficult side at Augusta National. There is that mystique about the back nine on Sunday, though ... if Phil can keep it going, he could shoot in the low 60s.

3:13 Best front nine scores in final round by Masters champion: Seve Ballesteros 31 in 1983. Three others at 32 ... Tommy Aaron in 1973, Tom Watson in 1977 and Nick Faldo in 1989.

3:09 Mickelson is off to one of the most amazing starts in Masters history. At No. 6, he dropped his tee shot to 4 feet and made the putt. At No. 7, he drove in the right rough, and hooked his approach around tree branches. The ball nearly caught the cup ... he tapped in for his fifth birdie ... 9 under, two shots from the lead.

2:40 Phil drains the putt ... he's at 7 under. Third birdie in five holes.

2:37 Perry and Cabrera striped it down the first fairway. Cabrera ripped his past the bunkers.

2:35 Mickelson has about a 15-footer for birdie at No. 5. He looks good so far. Looks like he's confident in his game plan. Woods has a monstrous putt from the front of the green.

2:28 Both Stricker and Sabbatini missed their birdie putts. You'll need every shot you can get today. No margin of error on this tight leaderboard.

2:22 Stricker and Sabbatini just knocked their approaches tight on No. 1. Don't overlook these guys. Stricker is steady, relies heavily on his putter. Sabbatini can get streaky. I see him charging or falling back ... nothing inbetween.

2:14 Y, China ... Mickelson just birdied No. 3, 6 under. Woods made par, 5 under. I think 12 under par will win. So Perry or Cabrera need to shoot 71 and hope nobody like Furyk fires a 68 or 67. Could be a playoff?

1:59 Tigerfan, USA ... Phil and Tiger just birdied No. 2. The key is to get to 7 or 8 under heading into the back nine. Don't forget, they are seven holes ahead of the leaders. If they can post a 10 or 11 under, that's when the real pressure can be applied. Can they do it? Mickelson shot a 68 Friday ... Woods hasn't broken 70 yet. That doesn't bode well for today.

1:55 Lee M, Spain ... Hang in there, Lee, and anybody else in your situation. I'll try to give you as much info as I can. If you need any specific updates, let me know.

1:50 Dan B, Canada ... I think Perry and Cabrera will have to shoot par or worse for Tiger or Phil to catch them. Still, they'd have to shoot 65 or 66 to do it. Just too many experienced players like Furyk, Campbell, Stricker, etc., they'll have to pass. If Perry or Cabrera can shoot 70 or 69, nobody will catch them.

1:47 And both make par. It's the largest following of patrons I've seen here. Just an awesome atmosphere. Expect the Sunday roars to return during the next few hours.

1:42 Tiger, in his traditional red power shirt, knocked his tee shot left into the trees again. Phil, wearing black, found the front right fairway bunker.

11:59 Bruce G, USA ... We were talking about that last night. I don't think so, not in this situation, and not at the Masters. They certainly won't say much, if anything, to each other, but they've got too much work to do. (Same for caddies Stevie and Bones.) I expect some tension, but they are 7 shots back and they've got to come out firing. It's gonna be quite a show. Watch early on ... if one or the other hits a couple great shots and gets hot on the greens, they could feed off each other. I remember that happening at Doral a couple years ago. Woods won when Mickelson narrowly missed a birdie chip at No. 18. That was a great duel.

11:54 Pin placements look pretty much as the traditional Sunday spots. A couple stick out, though. I'm looking at No. 8, the par 5, and the hole is tucked in the back right corner of this deep green; the other par 5s are in their usual spots. Ditto for 11 (middle right) and 12 (far right), the first two holes in Amen Corner.

11:45 Here's a guy who I think might win a Masters someday ... Bubba Watson. He finished tied for 20th last year in his first appearance. He just birdied three of the first four holes to get to 2 under. He's played steady all week, shooting 72-72-73 and looks headed for another top 20 or better. He's long off the tee, strong with his irons and is a very good putter. His game and laid-back mentality fits Augusta National.

11:22 How great does this work for TV? Woods and Mickelson will be on No. 7 when Cabrera and Perry begin their final round. This will be the 24th time they've been paired together, and second time in the majors (2001 Masters and 1997 PGA Championship). Everybody will know EXACTLY where they stand and what everyone else is doing.

11:10 Perfect Easter Sunday here at Augusta National. Leaders tee off in about 3-plus hours. But I'm sure you all want to know about the Tournament within the Tournament ... Tiger Woods vs. Phil Mickelson at 1:35. Both are seven shots back, can they find enough birdies in their baskets to chase down Kenny Perry, Angel Cabrera and the others? Not much happening here yet, but practice range is starting to get busy ... Let's get this party started!