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Lee Westwood in "sickening" loss

It was again a case of so near, yet so far for nearly-man Lee Westwood at the British Open on Sunday.

The 36-year-old Briton has won 18 times on the European Tour but despite going close on several occasions, including a runner-up finish at the French Open two weeks ago, he has failed to secure a victory in almost two years.

“I’ve gone from frustration to sickness,” Westwood told reporters after a closing 71 gave him a one-under-par tally of 279, one stroke off the four-hole playoff which saw Stewart Cink defeat fellow American Tom Watson, 59.

The Englishman went similarly close in the 2008 U.S. Open, failing by one shot to make the playoff won by Tiger Woods against fellow American Rocco Mediate at Torrey Pines.

“Both are pretty sickening but obviously this is the British Open and it’s the one that means the most to me,” he said.

A par-four at the 18th would have put Westwood in the playoff but, despite a stunning shot from a fairway bunker and a good first putt from 45 feet, a bogey five spelled anguish for the former European number one.

“I hit a great shot out of the trap but didn’t finish it off,” he said. “The biggest disappointment is three-putting the last.

“I thought I needed to (hole) the first putt but I shouldn’t have got ahead of myself,” he said after going on to miss a par-saving effort from six feet.

“I played great all week. Third place is not to be sniffed at in a major championship.

“I was pretty calm and collected and felt good in my game,” added Westwood, who was bidding to become the first native champion of the British Open since Paul Lawrie won at Carnoustie 10 years ago.

“I played pretty well all day today, hit lovely shots. I made some good up-and-downs when I needed to.”