US Masters update:The pairing of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson was the big draw on a pulsating final day of the Masters but despite all the fireworks their efforts were vain as overnight leaders Kenny Perry and Angel Cabrera alongside Chad Campbell battle it out for the famous Green Jacket in a play-off.

The trio tied on 12-under 276 after veteran Perry closed with two bogeys for a one-under 71 to allow Cabrera (71) and Campbell (69) a second bite of the cherry.

At 48 Perry is attempting to realise a lifelong dream and throughout the afternoon at Augusta his experience was telling. After 11 straight pars he picked up his first birdie of the day from the edge of the green at the short 12th, the second most difficult hole in Masters history.

Sensing victory the Kentucky native added further birdies at 15 and 16, where he almost holed his eight-iron at the grandstand par three. Then the nerves took hold and he bogeyed 17 and found the bunker at 18, pulled his approach and failed to get up and down.

Earlier in the day Woods and Mickelson had the crowds salivating at the prospect of making a charge at the leaders, but nobody could have predicted the birdie fest to ignite this opening major of the year.

Mickelson, the two-time Green Jacket winner, was peppering flags and picking up birdies for fun over the front nine, while Woods, at this point, could only look on.

Mickelson’s charge was astonishing as he picked up six birdies in his eight holes to get to 10-under. His first birdie came at the par five second and was soon followed by another at the next. Another came at the fifth before he almost holed his pitch at the short sixth.

Then came arguably the shot of the day when he hooked a long iron around the trees and what looked impossible turned into the easiest of birdies as his ball spun at the hole. He added a fourth consecutive birdie at the next and at that stage was one off Kenny Perry’s lead, who was level after nine holes.

Woods picked up his first birdie at the second and the rest pars to be five-under. But then a spark of magic occurred with a 30 foot eagle putt at the eighth. He also birdied the 13th and 15th and followed that up with another at the 16th from four feet.

However two wayward tee shots at 17 and 18 cost the world number one as he closed with two bogeys to sign for a 68, eight-under overall.

Mickelson frailties were exposed at the 12th where found water and picked up a double bogey. Although birdies came at the two par fives – 13 and 15 – he too closed with a bogey for a 67, one ahead of Woods on nine-under.

In truth the challenges petered out and the finish was somewhat anti-climatic considering the absorbing head-to-head battle the two best players in the world were engaged in for most of the afternoon.

“I had one of the worst warm-ups ever on the range today,” said Woods. “And it didn’t get much better on the first tee.”

“I knew to just keep going out there, my number was 11, to post 11-under, no matter what Phil (Mickelson) was doing as long as I held up my side of the bargain, I thought I’d be alright.

“I hit a good tee shot off 17 but it just didn’t cut back and that was my turning point. I was pretty much dead from there.”

Mickelson was gracious of his playing partner after his round. “It was a lot of fun playing out there with Tiger. We’ve played before but I am usually on the receiving end,” said the left-hander.

“It was a also fun to shoot those birdies on the front nine, I had the momentum, but I made a terrible swing on 12, that was disappointing after so may great irons. The missed putt at 15 (for eagle) was also frustrating.”

The Irish challenge had wilted before the final round and really all that was left to play for was places.

Graeme McDowell fared best of the Irish to be two-under for his round after 11 holes, but the momentum stalled with a double-bogey five at the 12th. However, he responded immediately with a run of three birdies including a monster at the 14th. From there he parred in and a final round 69 left the 29-year-old four-under overall tied 17th.

Rory McIlroy had the sort of finish leading contenders would pay good money for as the 19-year-old signed off with six birdies in his final 10 holes. That left the master debutante on two-under after a final round 70 to finish tied 20th.

"I said to JP (his caddy) coming up the ninth, ‘I really don’t want to shoot 40 on the front nine’ so I made birdie (for 39) and I thought a 30 on the back nine would be really nice, but I just came up short on the last for a 31," said McIlroy after his round.

"It was a great way to end a really good week. I wanted to play a little better, I felt I could have played a little better, but overall its been a great week and one that I can take a lot from.

"The pin positions today allowed you to be aggressive and that's what I was on the back nine. I think the pin positions have been generous, a few were very accessible. The guys out there are making the most of it – especially Phil so there is a score to be had out there.

"I know that I have the game to compete in majors, always knew that I did have, but it’s just a matter of going out there and proving it...and at least I finished in red numbers."

Pádraig Harrington yet again endured another disaster hole. This time it came at the ninth where he ran up a triple-bogey seven.

Not for the first time this week, though, the Dubliner rallied and was back to one-over after an eagle at the 13th. He added another birdie at the 17th and finished with a third consecutive 73 to be level par for the tournament.

“Just wasn’t meant to be. I didn’t hit a couple of wedge shots close enough and made a poor three-putt on seven and really you know you’re not going forward after that,” explained a philosophical Harrington after his round.

“There was a lot going on out there today. The scoring was obviously very good, the course was set up for that and the pins were accessible and the greens receptive. There was a lot of cheering going on and a good day to be out there.”