It did not come as a surprise that yesterday’s final round of The Masters went to a sudden-death playoff.

What was surprising was that none of the three golfers going extra holes was named Phil Mickelson or Tiger Woods.

It was an odd Sunday at Augusta National Golf Course, home of the Masters Tournament.

Most eyes were fixed not on the final pairing of the day, but instead a couple of groups ahead, where the true heavyweights of golf, Woods and Mickelson, spent the day doing their own version of Frazier and Ali and the ‘Thrilla in Manila.’

Call this one the ‘Thrilla in Augusta.’

Mickelson took the early advantage, blistering the front nine and pulling to within a shot of the lead. Woods was in full grinder mode, trailing both Mickelson and the leaders.

As it turned out, neither man made it to the playoff.

That honor was reserved for Kenny Perry, Chad Campbell and Angel Cabrera.

Perry had to be kicking himself. After an absolutely exquisite iron shot to the Par 3 16th left him with just a tap in and a two-stroke lead with two holes to play, he promptly threw away a green jacket by bogeying the final two holes.

Campbell was the first to fall in the playoff, leaving Perry and Cabrera to head back to the 10th tee. It appeared certain that it would be Cabrera would be the first to exit after he launched his tee shot on the first playoff hole on 18 into the trees. But he hit a miraculous shot back into the fairway, then got up and down from there.

It was Perry, clearly fighting his swing, who crumpled on the final hole.

Cabrera adds a green jacket to his U.S. Open championship.

But it was Woods vs. Mickelson that captured the thunder most of the day. Both had their chances. Mickelson shot himeself in the foot by hitting his tee shot on the Par 3 12th in the water. Woods clawed to within a shot before he fell on the final two holes.

In the process he did something I’ve never seen him do before. He blinked. He also did something else. On 18 Woods’ tee shot flew into the trees on the right side. In these instances Woods usually pulls off some kind of miracle. This time his shot caromed directly off a tree.

I know how you feel, Tiger. I do that all the time.

It’s about the only thing I do like Tiger.

Sunday at Augusta did not disappoint. It’s still the most riveting day in sports.