No 'what if' for Woods

World number one Tiger Woods refused to wonder "What if?" after coming up short in his bid for a fifth Masters title and first major victory since 2008 at Augusta.

Woods carded 70 to finish four shots outside the play-off contested by eventual winner Adam Scott and Angel Cabrera. Four shots was the difference between a likely birdie on the par-five 15th in his second round and the eight he ended up with, his approach hitting the pin and bouncing into the water and leading to a two-shot penalty for taking an incorrect drop.

"We could do that 'what if?' in every tournament we lose," the 37-year-old said.

"We lose more tournaments than we win out here on tour, so that's just part of the process and I'll go back to it."

Asked if he thought about the penalty on the final round, Woods added: "No, not when I'm playing. Absolutely not.

"I got to focus on what I need to do, where I need to place the golf ball and shoot the lowest score I possibly could at that moment.

"I thought 65 would win it outright. I thought that was going to be the number and it looks like it was. If I would have shot my number, it might have been a different story.

"I had a tough time getting accustomed to the speed of the greens, they were so much slower than yesterday. I left every putt short on the first eight holes.

"I played well but unfortunately did not make enough putts and missed a few shots here and there.

"I had an opportunity."