Off year for European contingent

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Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell fared the best after a closing 69 lifted him into joint 17th place, one shot too many. But at four under even he was eight shots adrift of the winning score.

"It has shown me I can get around Augusta. When I came here in 2005 I went away maybe thinking I couldn't," said McDowell, who shot 79-70 then to miss the halfway cut.

"I feel I have come on a lot," he added. "You learn a lot about how to plot your way round a course like this and it is still work in progress.

"I've had a short-game lesson all four days from my playing partners (he was paired with Tiger Woods in the third round) and I have a lot more work to do before I can hopefully slip a green jacket on."

Nineteen-year-old Rory McIlroy's eventful debut, including a rules incident which would have seen him disqualified if it had gone against him, ended with six birdies in the last 10 holes for a share of 20th.

"If only I'd finished on Friday like I'd finished today (Sunday)," said McIlroy, referring to his five dropped shots in two holes. I hit a couple of bad putts and then on 18 I was probably trying to be a little cute from the bunker. I should have taken my medicine, but I was trying to be a hero."

The best European performance probably belonged to 51-year-old Sandy Lyle, champion in 1988. Lyle shared 20th spot not only with McIlroy, but also Houston Open winner Paul Casey, Poulter and Justin Rose and said: "Considering I double-bogeyed the opening hole of my first round, to finish at two under was not bad.

"I have always known I could still be competitive round here. I know things haven't gone well the last few years, but last year I made a few changes to the swing and it seems to be working."

Nevertheless it was the worst collective showing by the European contingent - 17 of them world top 50 players - since 2000 when Harrington, Colin Montgomerie and Jean Van de Velde led the way in 19th spot.