Poulter - so near and yet so far.

Ian Poulter could not hide his frustration at the Open championship today - despite securing his best finish in a major.

Poulter carded a final-round 69 at St Andrews for a share of 11th place, but was fuming at a finish of bogey-par while playing partner Nick Faldo went birdie-eagle.

"It's my best finish in an Open but I should be winning these tournaments now and I'm not happy," said Poulter, whose previous best result was 25th at Troon 12 months ago.

"I'm disappointed I didn't finish the job off and that's very frustrating. In my eyes I haven't had a great tournament. It's okay.

"I'm hard on myself but if ever I get happy with finishing 15th or 12th then someone needs to put my clubs away and I'll take up tiddlywinks.

"I know I can win a major now, I believe I can. If I play well for four days I will win one. I know that and I think a lot of other golfers know that as well. I'm confident in myself and my own ability.

"Everyone is leaving shots out on the golf course but I know what I could have done. That's what is frustrating.

"We only play four majors a year. It's not as if there is a major to pick up every week.

"I don't accept making mistakes and I think I should be hard on myself. I'm a perfectionist and when I do stuff I want to do it right.

"I shouldn't be going home and opening a bottle of champagne and celebrating my best finish in an Open. It's not good enough for me."

Playing partner Faldo, winner of six majors including three Opens, felt Poulter should not be so concerned however, especially as this week was only his 12th major.

Faldo's first win at Muirfield in 1987 came at his 22nd attempt.

"Like many players it's good for them to get in and feel the real heat of a major," Faldo said.

"I'm a firm believer you need to climb that ladder slowly, feel the heat, go back and work it out, see what you've got to change in your game and come back ready for it.

"Very few have jumped straight in. If you've taken five or 10 years to get to that level that's fine.

"It's a different ball game winning a major. I don't think it's any exaggeration to say the pressure is tenfold.

"You have to learn to be able to cope with all that."