Phil Mickelson of the U.S. chips onto the second green during the first round of the Northern Trust Open PGA golf tournament at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles February 4, 2010. [Xinhua/Reuters File Photo]

Phil Mickelson defeated Lee Westwood to win his third Masters title after a dramatic final round on Sunday while Tiger Woods only won fourth, according to U.S, media reports.

Mickelson made improbable pars out of the pines on the ninth and 10th holes, birdied the 12th and 13th -- the latter after a some 200-meter approach from the right pines that may have been the shot of his career -- and coasted home from there to card a 67 and win his third Masters by three strokes over Englishman Lee Westwood (71).

This was Mickelson's fourth major title and first since his victory at Augusta National in 2006. He won the Masters in 2004 and the PGA Championship in 2005.

"To win this tournament, it's the most amazing feeling," said the 39-year-old, whose wife has been battling breast cancer for nearly a year. "This has been a special day. I'll look back on this day as very memorable, something I'll always cherish."

"It has been an emotional year," Mickelson said. "I'm very proud of the fight and struggle she has been through. It has been very difficult and very emotional. To be on the other end and feel the jubilation is incredible."

Tiger Woods, who returned this week after a five-month layoff following his sex scandals, struggled to a final-round 69 and shared fourth with South Korean K.J. Choi on 277, one stroke behind third-place American Anthony Kim.

"As the week went on I hit the ball worse," said Woods, who was playing his first competitive round in 144 days. "I wasn't very good. I had another terrible warm-up. I didn't have it, and it was pretty evident. I hit a hook on 1, a pop-up on 2, a low quacker on 5. It was a tough day.

Asked about when he might enter another tournament, the top-ranked said that he did not know and he would "take a little time off and re-evaluate things."