The lightning and thunder swept through on Friday night.

The electricity arrived on Sunday.

With the weather glorious, the greens softened slightly, a handful of players in contention and the world's two best golfers paired up, Augusta National was buzzing Sunday afternoon.

Most of the buzz emanated around Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, who drew a much larger gallery than even the Masters Tournament leaders. After a shaky start -- Tiger hit his first tee shot onto the 8th fairway, Phil's hit a tree and dribbled into a sand trap -- the two settled down and showed why they're the best.

Starting the day seven shots back, they put on a charge that electrified the course -- until both missed eagle putts on 15 that would have really put them in the thick of things.

It was incredible while it lasted. Indeed, fans sitting on the steep hill overlooking the 16th green stood on their toes to watch Woods and Mickelson conquer the nearby elevated 6th, a par three that Mickelson nearly claimed with one bold stroke.

Then there was the dramatic three-way playoff and Angel Cabrera's victory -- 41 years after another Argentinian, Roberto DeVicenzo, lost after signing a card that mistakenly added a stroke to his score.

You've got to love the childlike joy and passion that Cabrera brings to his sport, even in a nerve-wracking final round at the Masters.

This one was very nearly one of the best of the 73 Masters Tournaments -- and surely would have been if Tiger and Phil had completed their exhilarating comeback and complicated matters even further on the 18th.

Our heart goes out to Kenny Perry, a self-described ordinary guy who had a two-shot lead with two to play and lost in the playoff. But we were so impressed with his reaction -- which, aside from utter heartbreak, was to put it all in perspective and to be thankful for how blessed he is.

That's anything but ordinary.

And of course, this Masters will also be remembered for the emotional exit of the "Black Knight" -- Gary Player -- after playing in his astonishing 52nd Masters.

Then there was Greg Norman's unlikely return to the Masters and his sharing the joy of a Par 3 Contest hole-in- one with his wife and caddie for the day Chris Evert. When the two sports legends celebrated the feat with a kiss on the 6th tee, it was a Hollywood moment.

There may have been even more dramatic finishes or amazing shots at previous Masters. But there may never have been one that was more emotionally charged.

Let's take a year to settle down and do it again.