Tiger tamed by Oak Hell

TIGER'S 2003 MAJOR RECORD Masters Tied for 15th US Open Tied for 20th Open Tied for fourth USPGA Tied for 39th Micheel wins maiden major

Tiger Woods' trials and tribulations at the 2003 USPGA came to a relatively upbeat end when he closed out with two birdies in the last three holes for a 12-over-par total of 292.

But those birdies were the only positive moments in another frustrating day at Oak Hill for the world number one.

A second straight 73, following rounds of 74 and 72 on the first two days, left the 27-year-old American back in a tie for 39th place and his worst finish at a major since turning professional in 1996.

It also meant Woods has not won at least one of the year's four majors for the first time since 1998, and has now not claimed one of golf's big prizes since winning the 2002 US Open.

Although he has made every cut in the 28 majors he has played as a pro, his worst finish has twice been a tie for 29th, in the USPGA at Winged Foot in 1997 and again at Atlanta Athletic Club in 2001.

The eight-time major champion's four-round total of 292 was also his worst on American soil since the 1996 US Open when he carded a 294 as a 20-year-old amateur.

"It's frustrating," Woods said. "I'm so happy right now I'm done. I bogeyed a quarter of the holes for the week, which was nice."

The hardest major this year? Probably this one Tiger Woods More reaction from Oak Hill

Woods, who spent much of the week extricating his ball from the deep rough at Oak Hill, called the lay-out the hardest he has played.

"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."

Woods finished tied for 15th at the Masters, 20th at the US Open and fourth at the Open.

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

Woods' disappointing USPGA display almost certainly means he will not win the PGA Player of the Year award for a fourth consecutive season, despite winning four tour titles.

Not winning a major for the first time since 1998 also means Woods will not qualify for the chance to win a sixth consecutive PGA Grand Slam of Golf, the Hawaiian event featuring the year's four major champions.

Woods now goes to the World Golf Championships Invitational next week in Akron, Ohio. He has won the event the past three times it has been played at the Firestone Country Club course.

I wasn't that sharp with my fairway irons and that cost me the golf tournament Ernie Els

"It's nice to go back to a course you feel comfortable on," Woods said.

Canada's Mike Weir was one of the favourites going into the final round.

But the US Masters champion struggled and went from one-under to four-over after five holes.

"I caught some horrible breaks at the start," Weir said.

"The first hole was a legitimate bogey, but I thought I hit a really nice shot on two that was a foot in the rough.

South Africa's Ernie Els finished joint fifth but he felt he could have won the tournament.

He said: "I wasn't that sharp with my fairway irons and that cost me the golf tournament.

"I didn't get the ball close enough on my second shots. I gave myself chances hitting from the fairway."