Woods completes worst Major as a pro

For the first time since 1998 Tiger Woods will end a year with no major championship silverware in his trophy cabinet.

A three-over 73 in the final round of the U.S. PGA Championship on Sunday saw to that, leaving Woods an unthinkable 12-over for the tournament, capping a year of major disappointments for the world number one.

Woods arrived in Rochester hoping to emulate Walter Hagen's record of claiming at least one major title in five consecutive years, but instead stepped off the demon Oak Hill course braced for his worst finish at a major since turning professional.

When the American stepped off the 18th green, with co-leaders Shaun Micheel and Chad Campbell still to tee off, Woods was mired down the leaderboard in 42nd place out of 69.

His previous worst was a tie for 29th at the 1997 and 2001 PGA championships.

"Done," declared Woods, the strain of a difficult week detectable in his voice. "It was a tough week.

"I'm so happy now that I'm done."

Struggling for accuracy off the tee all week, Woods lost any chance of mounting a last-day charge with two bogeys in his first three holes, and then dropped three more shots between the 10th and 15th holes.

The 27-year-old finished strongly with birdies on 16 and at the last, triggering an ovation from the massive gallery and a forced smile but it could not wipe away four days of frustration at the Oak Hill Country Club where Woods wrestled with the narrow fairways, diabolical rough and tricky greens.

PGA champion in 1999 and 2000, Woods failed to break par in any of his four rounds, his two birdies on the final day lifting his meagre haul for the week to six.

"This golf course is so difficult," said Woods. "This is the hardest, fair golf course I have ever played.

"All it takes is a couple of bad shots here and there.

"You're hacking it out, you turn the club over, you're making six in a heartbeat.

"I think that's what you're seeing and why the scores are so high."

The winner of four events in 14 starts this season, Woods will attempt to put his major frustrations behind him at next week's WGC-NEC Invitational in Akron, Ohio, which he has won three times and capturing player of the year on honours for the fifth consecutive year.

"If Weirsy (Masters champion Mike Weir) wins it's all over," said Woods, when asked about player of the year. "But if he doesn't, it's still up for grabs for anybody."

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