• The Masters: What They Said

Woods & Westwood reflective after missed chances

Frustration showed for Tiger Woods © Getty Images

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Tiger Woods was sanguine after finishing at five-under. He said: "I thought I would have to shoot 65, but I just didn't post it. The conditions changed and the greens were totally different when the rain came down. I just couldn't quite get the speed right even before it rained. I left all my putts short on the first eight."

Jason Day, meanwhile, was sad to see a final round lead slip away as he finished third. He said: "There have been a lot of ups and a few downs, it is unfortunate that I had a shot at winning the tournament and did not make it. There are a lot of positives, I played really nice. If the ball had got over the lip at 17 it might have been a different story. But I am really happy with what has happened for Adam and I hope he can get over the line."

Marc Leishman took the positives from contending at such a significant tournament: "It is great to know that I can put four rounds together in a major when it matters and so that gives you lots of confidence. I think all of Australia is going to be on the edge of their seats for Adam and there is no reason why he cannot go out there and get another birdie and win it."

Lee Westwood, once again, missed a succession of putts as a realistic challenge failed to materialise. Nevertheless, he finished well at three-under: "I missed my chances out there, I could have been five-, six-under after eight and I was only two-under. The par fives have cost me. I haven't played them well enough. There are not too many negatives to take away and I was on the edge of contention. I know my way around this golf course and I felt that I played quite well."

Bernhard Langer briefly stormed to five-under before falling away: "My young son was saying that if I shot seven under par then I might win the tournament and I made a hot start but when the rain came down I could not adjust. It was fun while it last though."

Sergio Garcia finished inside the top ten at three-under: "I knew I was too far away. I think that someone is going to finish at nine or ten [under]. I would have needed to make everything I looked at ... and I didn't do that. It has been a solid week though."

Thorbjorn Olesen was one of the few players to make a host of birdies on Sunday, as he ensured his invite back for next year's event: "I have been playing great in the last three days. I have hit so many good shots, shaped the ball well and holed a few putts today as well. It was a shame to end on a bogey but it is a dream to be here and to play well is a bonus. I don't think I have a chance of actually winning it though."

Defending champion Bubba Watson could only smile, after making a ten at the 12th on the way to a subdued end to his time as incumbent Masters champion. He noted: ""I made a good putt for a 10. It is a tough shot to get to the green and on the second attempt I pushed it long into the bunker. I just made a 10 it was no big deal. Whoever I am going to put the green jacket on, I just want them to hurry up so that I don't have to hang around too long. Don't go to a play-off."

Tianlang Guan duly won low amateur honours, finishing 12-over par for the tournament. He said: "I think the first couple rounds, I played pretty good. I feel a little bit tired today. So yeah, there's still a lot of things to improve.

"My short game's good, but still need to be better. My driver probably needs to be longer. Yes, I mean, everything needs to improve."

Gary Player was in awe of Tianlang Guan's performance, reserving the highest of praise. He said: "I thought Tianlang Guan would score 81, 82 but I wouldn't have been surprised by a 90 because this course is such a monster. The greatest thing I have seen in golf was Tiger Woods winning a Grand Slam at 24, but Guan's performance is the second best I have seen. And he did it hitting woods! It is just incredible, if I had been in his position when I was 14 I would have been in tears."

World No. 2 Rory McIlroy finished with a round of 69 to finish in encouraging fashion, but he knew where his chances had gone: "I didn't feel that I played that differently today, but this golf course, if you get on the wrong side of it, can make you look a little silly at times. Yesterday [round of 79] was very disappointing. If I had kept that round under control then I might have been in with a chance today. But I was pleased with my round today and that is something to build on for the rest of the season."

Ernie Els did not contend, but was delighted to shoot 69 on Sunday. He said: "It was very nice to finish like that. I have not had broke 70 for a few years here it was good conditions to finish on the back nine is playing very nicely, there are birdies to be made. Cabrera is well set and he could really go low, but the two tough holes are 11 and 17."

Justin Rose was frustrated by a cold putter, as he eventually finished two-over. He said: "I hit the ball so well this week but struggled to convert with the putter and I made a couple of mental errors on the back nine and, classic Augusta, that was born out of trying to push too hard."

Luke Donald finished the tournament two-over, thanks in part to a final round of 72: "I felt that my game was fairly close this week but I had a few putts that lipped out and a few irons that were a bit wide. That is what this course is like. Eleven has a sucker pin which you have to be really precise on if you take it on and 17 with that back right pin is tough to get close to, but there are opportunities. Somebody will make a run."

Jose Maria Olazabal finished seven-over for the tournament after a stuttering close: "The conditions were perfect with not a breath of wind, I just threw it away over the back nine. "

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