Woods fails to beat history

Tiger Woods failed once more in his bid to win a major by coming from behind. All the world number one’s eight major titles have come when he has been leading going into the final round.

Today, having started the day two off the lead, his Open challenge faltered with three bogeys on the back nine to leave him in joint-fourth place for the tournament on one over par.

It meant he had played the back straight at Royal St George’s in a combined eight over par for the tournament, which included four putts, three from less than three feet, at the 12th in the second round.

He struggled with his putter throughout the final round and while he birdied the fourth, fifth and seventh to get to two under par for the tournament, one off the lead at one stage, he never looked like mounting the charge which would have given him a chance of his second Claret Jug.

He and playing partner Vijay Singh were even put on the clock for five holes for slow play.

“When you’re on the clock you’re not in your natural rhythm,” said Woods. “They were trying to get us to play in 3 hours and 23 minutes. That’s pretty quick on a Sunday afternoon.

“I wish I could have putted better on the back nine especially as I didn’t have a chance coming to 18 unless I holed the second shot.

“We didn’t know Thomas Bjorn was going to make six on 15. It’s one of those things. I had a chance.

“I was at two under par for a while and I put myself right where I needed to be and just didn’t make the putts and hit the proper shots. I hit some good shots on the back nine. They just didn’t turn out where I wanted to put them.

“The times I’ve won I’ve had some good breaks go my way. You need those good breaks. This week I got my fair share of good breaks and also got my share of really bad ones too.”