AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) - Argentina's Angel Cabrera added a Masters green jacket to his 2007 US Open victory and stopped 48-year-old American Kenny Perry becoming the oldest major champion in history.

The pair had tied with Perry's Ryder Cup team-mate Chad Campbell on 12-under-par after a day earlier dominated by magnificent charges and bad finishes from Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods.

Campbell went out when he missed a par putt of under four feet on the first hole of the sudden-death playoff.

Cabrera made a seven-footer to stay alive there and triumphed when Perry, who had bogeyed the final two holes when two ahead, missed the green at the second extra hole and failed to get up and down.

At 69 in the world Cabrera became the lowest-rated Masters champion since the rankings began in 1986 - and his triumph came 41 years after his compatriot Roberto de Vicenzo became one of the unluckiest losers ever in major golf.

De Vicenzo was all set to go into a play-off with American Bob Goalby at the same Augusta National course, but signed for a par four on the 17th when he had actually taken three.

The rules stated that he had to accept the higher score and so he is forever listed as a Masters runner-up.

That looked likely to be Cabrera's final position as well, but Perry brought back horrible memories of his finish to the 1996 US PGA championship.

On that occasion he was two ahead with one to play, but carded a closing bogey six, sat in a television studio and watched Mark Brooks birdie, then lost the play-off.

Cabrera, 39, had teed off with the chance to become the first Masters champion to have four rounds in the 60s. But as it turned out a one-under 71 was good enough.

Japan's Shingo Katayama finished fourth, Mickelson fifth and Woods joint sixth with fellow Americans Steve Flesch, Steve Stricker and little-known John Merrick.

Woods and Mickelson had earlier served up what for most of the round was one of the great head-to-head duels ever in majors.

They both came from seven back to be only one behind with two to play, but could not eliminate the mistakes which would have put more pressure on the leaders over the closing stretch.

Woods bogeyed the last two like Perry, but it was of no comfort to Mickelson that he beat his deadly rival by one. He made the bigger blunders at the crucial moments.

The 2004 and 2006 champion, out in a dazzling record-equalling 30 that brought electricity to the atmosphere around the entire course, first messed up the short 12th by going in the water and taking a double bogey five.

When he two-putted the long 13th he re-ignited his chances and at the 15th he drilled a majestic iron to four feet. If the eagle putt had gone in he would have joined Perry out in front, but he missed.

Woods had also birdied the 13th and after missing a 20-foot eagle putt two holes later hit his tee shot to the 170-yard 16th to four feet and drew level with Mickelson.

They were both one behind, but Woods blocked himself out off the 17th tee, could not find the green and bogeyed.

Mickelson, meanwhile, hit his approach to six feet, but missed that as well and then, while Woods was in more tree trouble on the last, found the cavernous fairway bunker and, unlike Sandy Lyle so famously in 1988, came up short of the green and could not save par.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)