Tiger Woods bemoans poor putting at Muirfield

Tiger Woods has said that his touch on the green deserted him during his final round of the Open Championship at Muirfield.

The 14-time Major champion, who posted a three-over 74 to finish on two-over-par, added that Phil Mickelson's sparkling 66 helped soften the blow of losing.

"I had a hard time adjusting to the speeds," he told reporters. "They were much slower today, much softer. I don't think I got too many putts to the hole.

"I didn't really play that poorly. I just couldn't ever get the pace of these things. I think if it does feel any better, it is that Phil got to three-under.

"If he would have posted one, it would have been a different story. I think a lot of us would be a little more ticked than we are now, but he posted three - that's a hell of a number."

Woods has not won a Major title since beating Rocco Mediate in an 18-hole playoff for the US Open at Torrey Pines in 2008.