Mickelson ends major hunt

With an 18-foot birdie putt and a leap into the air almost as high, Phil Mickelson rid himself of the tag as “best player never to win a major” today - and with it created golfing history.

Mickelson, who had had to live with 17 top 10 finishes in the majors without a victory, captured the Masters at Augusta by a stroke from Ernie Els in as thrilling a fashion as the tournament has produced. And that is saying something.