Birdie drought costs Woods title chance at Oakmont

OAKMONT, Pennsylvania, June 18 (Reuters) Tiger Woods fell one stroke short at the US Open today, the second major in a row where he has finished runner-up after playing in the final pairing.

The world number one, bidding for his 13th major title but unable to make enough birdies, battled to a two-over-par 72 at the brutal Oakmont Country Club for a six-over total of 286.

''Finishing second is never fun,'' Woods told reporters after failing to overhaul Argentina's Angel Cabrera over the closing stretch. ''You play so hard, and it's just disappointing.

''My last four majors, I've gone 1, 1, 2, 2. That's not terrible, but it could have been a little bit better.'' Winner of last year's British Open at Hoylake and the PGA Championship at Medinah, Woods also had to settle for second place at the Masters in April, two strokes behind fellow American Zach Johnson.

Although he had never clinched a major when trailing after 54 holes, he was tournament favourite going into yesterday's final round at Oakmont two strokes behind Australian Aaron Baddeley.

''I just haven't gotten it done,'' said Woods, who made only one birdie in his last 32 holes at Oakmont. ''I put myself there and haven't gotten it done.'' ANALYSING THINGS Asked if there was anything he could have done differently, he replied: ''That's one of the things I need to go back and analyse.

''I felt like I hit the ball pretty good all week. My pace on the greens, I thought, was really good, and I just had one three-putt all week.'' The 31-year-old American, a three-times winner on the 2007 PGA Tour, conceded he had not been at his best on yesterday's front nine.

''I wasn't that sharp and I hit some poor iron shots,'' said Woods, US Open champion at Pebble Beach in 2000 and at Bethpage Black in 2002.

''But I felt like I was still controlling my golf ball pretty good and I hit the ball good on that back nine.

''I just needed to make one more putt. I was still in the ballgame and there were still a lot of holes to play.'' Tied for the lead early on the front nine, Woods slipped back with a double-bogey at the par-four third. Although he partially recovered with a birdie at the 609-yard fourth, he was unable to pick up another shot in the last 14 holes.

''You had to stay patient,'' he said. ''It's the US Open.

Even though at one point I was three back, you just keep hanging in there. You never know what can happen. I just didn't make enough birdies.'' REUTERS DH RK1210