By Phil Casey, PA Sport, Augusta

Tiger Woods was today philosophical about failing to claim an historic third straight US Masters title - despite admitting to a costly 'mental blunder'.

Woods began Sunday's final round just four shots off the lead and quickly cut the gap to three with a birdie on the second.

However, the world number one then double-bogeyed the third when trying to drive the green, struggling to a closing round of 75 for a two-over total of 290, his worst in seven appearances as a professional at Augusta.

"I got off to an ideal start but I made a mental blunder on three and that cost me a lot of momentum," said Woods, who was tempted to go for the green after the tee was moved forward on the short par four, which normally measures 350 yards.

"It was a bad decision. I wanted to hit an iron but Steve (Williams, his caddie) said it was a better play from down below (nearer the green).

"I went with it but ultimately it's the player's call so I made the wrong decision.

"You can't win everything, that's our sport. It's not easy, that's why no-one's ever done it (won three in a row). It was one of those weeks when I couldn't get anything going."

It meant Woods, who finished nine shots behind Mike Weir and Len Mattiace - Weir winning on the first hole of a play-off - joins Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo in failing in the attempt to win an unprecedented three Masters in a row.

Nicklaus missed the cut by a shot in 1967 after winning the previous two years, while Faldo finished joint 12th in 1991, five shots behind winner Ian Woosnam, after winning back-to-back play-offs in 1989-90.

All eight of Woods' major victories have come when he led or shared the lead going into the final round, and he has now failed to win any of the other four times he has been in contention with 18 holes to go.

He trailed by five shots and came up short behind close friend Mark O'Meara in the 1998 Open at Birkdale, and briefly shared the lead after 70 holes of the 1999 US Open before faltering and losing out to the late Payne Stewart.

He then made consecutive bogeys on the back nine before closing with four straight birdies to lose by a shot to Rich Beem at the 2002 USPGA Championship.

It all seemed to be going to plan in the early stages of the final round as well, Woods saving par on the first after finding the fairway bunker and coming up just short of the green.

He then smashed a drive 325 yards down the par-five second hole and hit a superb long iron from 250 yards to within 20 feet of the hole, and although his eagle putt was under hit, he tapped in for a birdie four.

Phil Mickelson, often criticised for his aggressive approach, had resisted the temptation to go for the green, but Woods was up for the challenge.

He carved his drive deep into the trees to the right of the hole, and was fortunate to find it lying in the open next to a bush. He was unable to take a normal stance however, and had to play the shot left-handed, turning round the face of a pitching wedge and punching the ball out just short of the green.

The third shot was completely mishit however and flew straight across the green, and from there Woods' delicate attempt to get the ball up a slope and then downhill to the flag was left on top of the bank.

Two putts later Woods signed for a double bogey six, and when he three-putted the next as well for a bogey, he was two over for his round and one over for the tournament.

Woods had to scramble to save par on the fifth and sixth as well, but could not do so on the seventh after finding a greenside bunker.

Another bogey followed on the next after finding more sand and then fluffing another chip, but Woods gave himself a fighting chance with an approach to three feet for birdie on the ninth.

Woods also two-putted the par-five 13th for a birdie but bogeyed the 14th, and by then knew his challenge was over.