AUGUSTA, Ga. — At the 18th green, Hunter Mahan and Anthony Kim were just trying to finish their rounds in peace. But as they sized up their putts, a buzz started to build around them.

A leader-board operator had removed the tile that would hold Tiger Woods' and Phil Mickelson's score after the 16th hole. When the board simultaneously flashed two red 10s, Augusta National came unglued. Woods had birdied, Mickelson had made par, and the top two players in the world suddenly found themselves tied for second, one shot behind leader Kenny Perry.

Both 6 under for the day and 10 under for the tournament, Woods and Mickelson had done the unthinkable. It seemed they would walk 18 with a chance to win the Masters.

But Woods bogeyed his final two holes — at 18, he hit his drive into the woods and caromed his second into a tree — and Mickelson bogeyed 18. In the end, all they got was a Sunday duel for the ages that showed it may not be time to sleep on Mickelson just yet. Mickelson finished fifth at 9 under. Woods tied for sixth at 8 under.

"It was a very emotional day because it's up and down, up and down, a lot of highs and lows," Mickelson said. "The crowd, it made the highs even higher, and the moans made the lows even lower, and it was just an emotional day."

Mickelson birdied six of the first eight holes. He played gutsy, innovative shots all around the front nine, including an iron shot on his approach at No. 7 that defied the imagination. As Mickelson and Woods made the turn, Mickelson was already 10 under, and Woods was 7 under.

Certainly, Mickelson showed an ability to stare down his detractors — most notably, Woods' caddie Steve Williams, who told the Taranaki Daily News of New Zealand in December that "I wouldn't call Mickelson a great player 'cause I hate the (expletive)."

Mickelson looked like a great player yesterday, but he seems to always have a few unforgivable shots left in his bag. Mickelson was one back at the par-3 No. 12 when he pulled his tee shot way right and eventually into Rae's Creek. He would double-bogey the hole.

"You've got to get through there with a par," Mickelson said.

Mickelson fought back and birdied 13, along with Woods. They each made par at 14, setting up a crucial hole at the par-5 No. 15. Mickelson and Woods each gave themselves eagle putts — Mickelson's was 4 feet from the hole — but both would settle for birdies. Mickelson could have tied Perry for the lead had he made a putt he's made thousands of times.

"When I got up over it, I just made a tentative stroke," Mickelson said. "I didn't trust my read, I didn't commit to it. I just made a terrible stroke."

Woods didn't play anywhere near his ceiling, but he still gave himself a chance.

"I hit it so bad today warming up," Woods said. "I was hitting quick hooks, blocks, you name it. I hit it all on the range, and then on the very first hole I almost hit it into the eighth fairway. It's one of the worst tee shots I've ever hit starting out. I fought my swing all day and just kind of Band-Aided around and almost won the tournament with a Band-Aid swing today."

Mickelson had the swing to make something special happen. With a 30 on the front nine, he tied the course record.

"I enjoyed the chance to try to win a golf tournament," Mickelson said, "and I love the fact I shot 30 to give myself an opportunity to win."