South Korean golfer Choi Kyung-ju finished third in the U.S. Masters Sunday with a four-day total of six-under 282, the best finish by an Asian on a PGA major.

In the final round of the world's most prestigious golf tournament held at the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, Choi combined an eagle, three birdies and two bogeys to finish three strokes behind the winner Phil Mickelson and two strokes behind runner-up Ernie Els.

It was the first top ten finish for the 33-year-old Choi in a major since he earned his PGA tour card in 2000. He ranked 15th in last year's Masters.

Mickelson rolled in an 18-foot birdie putt at the last hole to win the tournament with a nine-under par 279 - the American's first-ever win in a golf major.