AUGUSTA, Ga. - This was the Masters we used to know. This was the Masters of blue skies and blooming azaleas and golf shots that send an explosion of noise down the fairways and a chill up the spine.

This was the Masters where eagles drop and expectations rise, and the top of the leaderboard becomes a spectator's dream.

"Those roars,'' averred Tom Watson, reliving memories, "are Augusta roars. I'm glad they're back.''

They're back, said Phil Mickelson, not because of anything done to a course that some thought a few years ago was altered to a point of unfairness and dullness.

They're back because spring showed up as more than a date on calendar, and the best golfers in the world used it to their advantage.

"It's the weather,'' said Mickelson. He became the third person in Masters history with back-to-back eagles, and Saturday after 54 holes he was a shot out of the lead.

Three years ago, 1-over par was the winning score. But going into today's final round, Mickelson is 11-under par. And in second, behind Lee Westwood, the Englishman, who is 12-under. With the man of the week, if not the century, embattled, enlightened Tiger Woods, 8-under, tied for third with K.J. Choi, who for a fourth straight day will play with Tiger.

What a wonderful Masters. The stern play of Watson, winner in 1977 and 1981, who now at age 60 is still competitive enough to go through three rounds at 2-under 214.

What a wonderful Masters, a kid from Italy, 16-year-old Matteo Manassero - 44 years younger than Watson - became the youngest golfer ever to enter or to make the cut.

What a wonderful Masters, 50-year-old Fred Couples, with an eagle of his own Saturday, sitting in fifth place, 7-under par and five back of Westwood.

"When it's cold and windy,'' Mickelson said, recalling 2007, when Zach Johnson had the first over-par winning total in 51 years, "it was playing a lot longer and harder. Greens were drying out. And here the greens are receptive, and with the warm temperatures, the ball is just traveling a long distance.''

Mickelson hit a 7-iron 195 yards, his second shot across Rae's Creek onto the green of the infamous par-5 13 and made an eight-foot putt for an eagle 3. He followed that with a 151-yard shot into the cup at the par-4 14th, for another eagle.

"It was pretty cool,'' said Mickelson. It was also pretty loud. And pretty significant. At the 11th he was five shots behind Westwood. At the 14th he was tied with Westwood. At the 15th he was a shot ahead of Westwood.

"It happens here,'' reminded Mickelson. Or it used to happen here. The drama, the excitement, the number of risk and reward holes at the only major championship course used year after year, are what gave the Masters its special place in sports.

You're in the lead. Moments later you're in the water.

"It was probably one of those great days in golf,'' said Westwood. "Obviously I wasn't privy to the things you have been, in seeing all those. But I was well aware somebody was making a charge, and I figured it was Phil.

"So yeah, that's what major championships are all about. They are the tough ones to win, because people, great players, do great things at major championships.''

For Westwood, who will be 37 before the end of April, the things haven't been so great. Unintentionally he now bears the burden of the best player never to win a major, although twice he has come within a putt of tying for a playoff and another time came in second.

Until Saturday, the tale at this Masters was spun around Tiger, returning after that five-month break, returning with the one-liners about his marriage infidelities still prevalent on late-night TV. Woods had done well enough, both with his clubs and his new attitude.

Saturday, the old anger welled up after a couple of poor shots. Woods yelled at himself loudly enough to be picked up by CBS, "Tiger Woods, you suck god damnit,'' after his tee ball on the par-3 6th, then growled "God damnit,'' after a swing on the seventh.

Not exactly stuff that would get one censored, but this was Tiger after all the castigation and embarrassment, so the smallest issue becomes magnified.

"I warmed up terrible today,'' said Woods. "I got on the course and made two quick birdies, but after that I fought it all the way.''

Told that twice he cursed on the front nine, Woods could only respond, "Did I? If I did I'm sorry.

"Normally, you're not going to have four great days. I've played golf long enough where I've never had four great rounds in a row.''

And enough golf has been played here to acknowledge, overall the Masters had a great day, just like in the past.