Woods shows flashes in Augusta

Tiger Woods did better than Ian Poulter thought he would, but he is still stuck on 14 majors after his putting let him down when he needed it the most in The Masters.

Woods matched his fourth place of last year after Poulter said he did not think the former world number one would finish in the top five following 17 months without a win.

But having charged all the way from seven back into a share of the lead golf’s biggest star three-putted the 12th for bogey and missed a four-foot eagle opportunity at the 15th.

Out in 31, only one shy of the tournament record, Woods came home in 36 to end up four behind South African Charl Schwartzel.

As has been the case all season, his fans are being treated to only flashes of the player who dominated the sport for so long.

“It was good, but I should have shot an easy three or four under on the back nine and I only posted even,” said Woods, whose last major success remains the 2008 US Open. “I didn’t putt well and hit one loose iron at 13.

“This entire weekend I hit it good, so that was a nice feeling. I had to be committed to my spots and I did that all week. This golf course baits you – you can get aggressive and you can lose it.”

England’s Luke Donald had much to reflect on well after he tied with Woods in dramatic fashion.

Two behind when he went in the water and double-bogeyed the 12th Donald birdied the 13th, 15th and 16th, three-putted the 17th and suffered about every emotion going on the last.

Still in with a chance at that point the World Match Play champion, carrying the jinx of winning the par three competition last Wednesday, hit the flag with his second shot from the edge of a bunker.

It rebounded off the green, but then he chipped in for birdie and a 69.

“Twelve was obviously the killer for me,” he said, “I pushed a nine-iron and paid the penalty – it was probably my one bad swing – but I dug in deep.”

He is back up to world number three ahead of Phil Mickelson, who was only 27th in the defence of the title, and added: “I feel I’m improving and going in the right direction.

“I felt very comfortable out there. I didn’t feel too nervous and I gave it my best shot.”

Last year’s runner-up Lee Westwood also double-bogeyed the 12 after giving himself an outside chance when he turned in 33 and finished 11th.

Justin Rose was on the same mark after a 68, while Ross Fisher, Scotland Martin Laird – he played with Woods – and Ian Poulter all shot 73 to drop to 15th, 20th and 27th respectively.