Mike Weir.
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Two left-handers fought out a US Masters showdown over an extra hole at Augusta - but neither was the man whom many had expected to figure in the spotlight.
While the player known as 'lefty' on the circuit - Phil Mickelson - trailed in third, it was Canadian Mike Weir who plays the game 'on the wrong side' and little known Len Mattiace, a natural left-hander who plays right-handed, who finally battled for the green jacket.
And in an anti-climactic extra hole - the downhill 490-yard tenth - a bogey five was enough for Weir to take the title, when Mattiace pulled his approach behind a tree and was still left with a 10-footer for a six when Weir tapped in.
Weir ('Weiry' to his mates) became the first Canadian to win the Masters, making two vital putts from four and seven feet at the 17th and 18th holes to force the playoff. Both he and Mattiace finished on seven under par after respective rounds of 68 and 65.
Tiger Woods' only part in the drama came when, as the 2002 champion, he got to slip the green jacket over the shoulders of the new champion. Earlier the World No.1 had smashed his tee shot at the third hole into the trees, played out left-handed and taken a double bogey six on his way to a 75.
As well as the first Canadian to win a major championship, Weir also became the first left-hander to win a major since Bob Charles at The Open in 1963.
For Mattiace, a winner twice on Tour last year, it looked for a time as if a fairy-tale might come true. He holed from 60 feet on the tenth in the final round and rolled in a downhill 15-footer for eagle at the 13th and a curly 12 footer for birdie at 16.
His bogey at the 18th came after a tee shot that failed to clear the trees. Tt was a mistake that was to prove costly.
Earlier in the week European hopes had rested on Darren Clarke - a leader during the interrupted second round - but his form faded and it was left to Jose Maria Olazabal - twice a winner here to take up the challenge.
Playing with Woods he started with nine pars but never really got in the hunt to finish in a share of 8th after a 74. The 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie, however, showed his improvement to earn a return call next year with a share of 15th place on +2.
So how will the 2003 Masters be remembered?
Probably as the year when left-handers dominated the rain-hit event - and when Woods blew his chances playing cack-handed from the trees.
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