The mercurial 22-year-old American finished third on one over par after a four-under 66 and had to sit and watch as his good friend, the Masters champion Mark O'Meara, saw off Brian Watts in a four-hole playoff.

A spectacular chip-in from 30 feet just off the 17th green and a 30-foot putt at the last gave Woods two birdies -- and three in the last four holes -- and for a few moments it looked like he might reach a playoff.

But O'Meara made a birdie from 15 feet at the 17th and parred the last to shut Woods out, and Watts joined the Masters champion in the playoff with a birdie at the same hole a few minutes later.

Yet Woods always suspected his effort was too little, too late.

"I knew I'd probably have to get to level par. Ultimately it was not good enough for a playoff. Par was going to be the number and I just didn't do it," he said.

Woods was not too disappointed at failing to add his first major title since he won the Masters last year in such dominant style.

"You have to look at the positive. I didn't do it, I came up short but third place isn't bad. I started out good and finished good and I hit a lot of good shots this week.

"Most importantly I came back today and birdied three of the last four when I was kind of out of it to get myself a chance.

"I thought maybe I'd be lucky and get into a playoff. But then these guys made birdie and so they went to the playoff."

Woods began as the joint first round leader after a 65 but slipped to 73-77 in the next two rounds as the wind worsened, especially on Saturday.

"I made a whole bunch of mistakes this week. Unfortunately a lot of them happened yesterday in the wind when it was howling. Shooting 77 was disappointing but in that wind you can understand it."

Woods said he never believed O'Meara would crack.

"I really didn't wish he would make a mistake. Honestly, to be honest with you. I knew he was going to make the putts.

"Look at the Masters, he birdied three of the last four, the last two holes, he made a great putt there. The guy is capable of gutting it out and winning championships."

Woods said he and O'Meara were still waiting for the day when they battle down the stretch for a title, which has not happened yet.

"But I can't wait till we get home and play together," Woods said.

"I know what I'll say to him. It's very simple. 'I want shots'."