Rochester (USA), Aug 18: Tiger Woods not only failed to win a major golf crown for the first time in five years, but the world number one staggered to his worst major showing and poorest pro total on American soil.
The eight-time major champion stumbled home with a three-over par 73 here yesterday in the final round of the 85th PGA Championship, spending much of the round and the week blasting out of deep rough at Oak Hill Country Club.
"It's frustrating," Woods said moments after signing his scorecard. "I'm so happy right now I'm done."
Woods ended the year's final major tied for 39th place, his worst major finish as a professional. The previous low mark was a share of 29th at the 1997 and 2001 PGA Championships.
His 12-over par 292 was his worst four-round total in any US event since the 1996 US Open, when Woods was a 20-year-old amateur firing a 294 to share 82nd.



Woods called Oak Hill the toughest course he has seen. Yesterday's struggle at 'Oak Hell' ensured Woods would not join 1920s star Walter Hagen as the only men to win majors five years in a row, although a 73 Saturday ended any real hope.



"It's tough. It's hard to get the ball close," Woods said. "When you're not as precise as you need to be, it's tough. Just a brutal test."



The 27-year-old American finished tied for 15th at the Masters, 20th at the US Open and fourth at the British Open.



"The hardest major this year? Probably this one," Woods said. "This is a very fair test. It's just very difficult."


Bureau Report