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Tim Clark gains best ever Major finish

Despite being one of the shortest hitters in the field, South Africa's Tim Clark produced the best major finish of his career at the U.S. Masters on Sunday.

The 30-year-old from Durban, who is based in Arizona, spectacularly holed out for a birdie-three from a greenside bunker at the last for a 69 to finish in second place, two strokes behind Phil Mickelson.

Clark trailed Mickelson by two shots with Augusta National's back nine to come and later rued he had been unable to birdie either of the par-fives, 13 and 15.

"Anything can happen on that back nine and I just wish I had capitalised on those par-fives," Clark told reporters after bettering his third place at the 2003 U.S. PGA Championship and his tie for third at last year's U.S. Open.

"That's what I had to do.

"If I'm going to lose any strokes, it's probably going to be the par fives with the difference in length. And I had good chances.

"I got it over the back of the green on 13 and wasn't able to get it up and down.

"And I was just front right of the green on 15 and didn't get it up and down. If I get those up and down, I'm seven under."

Clark relished playing the final round in the company of Tiger Woods, who was thwarted in his bid for a fifth Masters title by poor putting.

"It's always just great to play with Tiger," said the diminutive South African, who outscored the 10-times major winner by a stroke.

"He's still the world's number one player. I just happened to have a great day today.

"I had to really play my own game and it's discouraging when you see him 50 yards ahead of you or hitting a six-iron to a par-three and I'm trying to lace up a three-wood just to get it home."

Despite the disappointment of failing to win his first major, Clark was encouraged by his performance on the second longest course in major history.

"I've had a few good major championships and really do feel like I play my best golf in the majors," he said. "I don't know what it is.

"I guess I get a little bit more geared up for them or what have you. I pride myself on being up there on the leaderboard with those guys, and when I'm there, I'm going to try my best to beat them.

"This is obviously one of the highlights. I'll look back and say: 'Gee, I finished second there.'

"Coming out here today, I really felt I had a great chance to win. There will always be a little bit of disappointment in not winning and hopefully I get another shot at it around here."