CARNOUSTIE, July 22: Tiger Woods will fly back to Florida without the claret jug he had dreamed of presenting to his new baby daughter after seeing his bid for a third consecutive British Open title end in frustration here on Sunday.

The world No 1's campaign for a 13th major title ended with a whimper rather than a roar as he slipped out of the reckoning at Carnoustie with a final round 70.

Despite overnight leader Sergio Garcia faltering, Woods was unable to force his way into the shake-up at the top of the leaderboard and he finished a frustrating week at two under par.

“It was not as sharp as I needed to be tee-to-green,” Woods admitted. “I was putting great, I just never get myself close enough to the hole often enough. When I did, I made it.

“I had a chance this week even if my ball-striking was not where it needed to be – it just wasn't sharp enough to win a major.”

Woods had started the week with high hopes of celebrating last month's birth of his first child, Sam Alexis, by becoming the first man since Peter Thomson in the 1950's to claim three consecutive Open titles.

Given how he had dominated the field at St Andrews in 2005 and at Hoylake last year, Woods had been installed as one of the biggest favourites in Open history.

Everything appeared to be going according to the script as he made an assured start to his campaign with an opening 69.

But his challenge was holed below the water-line by a second round 74 which would have been significantly worse but for some inspired salvage work on the greens.—AFP