What a dramatic finish to the US Masters.

Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods going head to head made for fantastic viewing last Sunday night. They ripped the course up with some stunning golf.

Ultimately though they entered the final round too far behind and their impressive challenge faded in the closing holes.

If that wasn’t enough excitement for one evening, there was the unfortunate, yet compelling, failure of Kenny Perry to claim the green jacket.

Leading by two shots with two holes to play, he made a hash of 17 and 18 and ended up in a three way play-off with Angel Cabrera and Chad Campbell.

That was incredibly tense with the Argentine coming out on top, before paying an emotional tribute to his hero and former Masters champion Seve Ballesteros, who is bravely battling brain cancer.

After a few years when Augusta failed to live up to expectations, the 2009 tournament delivered — and then some.

For the first two days of course, our own Rory McIlroy was the talk of the fairways.

Regular readers of this column will know that many moons agao, I tipped the teenager from Holywood to win a major.

Admittedly not one of my more outlandish predictions, given his wonderful ability, but one I’m more than happy to stick with after viewing his first appearance at Augusta.

After a steady opening round, the 19-year-old produced some superb shot making in the second round to put himself in contention, before it all went wrong in the final holes.

He four-putted on 16 and then took a triple bogey at the last, which included that famous swipe over the sand with his foot after failing to get out of the bunker.

There was a lengthy inquiry conducted by officials after Rory’s “dance in the bunker” but thankfully common sense prevailed and he escaped disqualification, which had seemed a distinct possibility listening to the BBC “experts”.

Far from being perturbed by that Rory played pretty well in the last two rounds, and shot 31 on his back nine in the final round to end up on two under in joint 20th position.

The only European to finish ahead of him was fellow Ulsterman Graeme McDowell.

All in all then Rory can be content enough with what was an eventful opening to what I believe will be a long and rewarding Masters career.

What happened at Augusta — especially that four putt, triple bogey and the sandstorm — will hold Rory in good stead for the future.

The experience he will have gained from the four rounds will prove invaluable.

Let’s remember, the boy is only 19 for heaven’s sake. He has years and years ahead of him.

And in at least one of them he’ll get to put on a green jacket.