Masters, maybe

Take this as either a consolation prize or more torment. Greg Norman has an offer to return to the Masters, which invites the top four players and ties from the British Open.

“Time out,” Norman said Sunday, motioning with his hands. “I’ve got a lot of water to go over the dam to get to that.”

Norman last played the Masters in 2002 when he received a special foreign exemption and tied for 36th, and there was no guarantee he would show up next April. Despite his remarkable performance at Royal Birkdale, the 53-year-old Norman said it did not inspire him to start playing more golf.

He will be at Royal Troon next week for the Senior British Open, then the Broadmoor in Colorado for the U.S. Senior Open, and he has no plans anywhere else the rest of the year.

The coveted invitations might mean more to Ian Poulter, who finished second, and Henrik Stenson, who tied for third, although both are high enough in the top 50 that they might have gotten in, anyway.

Chris Wood, the 20-year-old amateur from England, bogeyed the final hole, and that cost him. A par would have given him a tie for third and a ticket to the Masters.

The top 15 are guaranteed a trip to Turnberry for the British Open, so at least Wood won’t have to go through qualifying.

The British Open exempts the top 15, although that didn’t affect too many players. David Howell of England, whose 67 was the best score of the final round, was exempt this year from winning the BMW PGA Championship in 2005. That exemption expires this year.

Choi’s chance

For the second year in a row, K.J. Choi played in the final group on a weekend at the British Open.

That first major title will have to wait.

Choi was the 36-hole leader at the British Open, and the South Korean was still right in the thick of things going to Sunday’s final round two strokes off the lead.

But Choi had a miserable time on the greens, missing numerous short putts and closing with a quadruple-bogey 8 on the final hole for a closing-round 79 that dropped him all the way to 16th place.

“I had no feel for my putting,” said Choi, blaming his woes on the blustery conditions. “I learned a lot this week. I’m not disappointed.”

A year ago at Carnoustie, he also played in the final group on Saturday but faded to a tie for eighth. Choi is the winningest Asian player in PGA Tour history, and he’s not giving up on capturing one of golf’s biggest events.

“I feel I’m getting close to winning a major,” Choi said. “I’m not really that far away.”

Amateur success

Wood became the latest amateur to find success at Royal Birkdale, a decade after Justin Rose’s spectacular chip on the 72nd hole gave him a share of fourth at the British Open.

Wood survived getting stuck in a bunker to finish in a tie for fifth Sunday, showing signs he has the potential to follow his fellow Englishman into the pro ranks. Just not yet.

Unlike Rose, who was 17 when he had his eye-catching finish in 1998, turned pro a day later and then went 21 tournaments without making a cut, Wood isn’t rushing into things.

“Not at the moment, no,” the 20-year-old said after his 2-over 72 left him at 10 over for the tournament, seven behind winner Padraig Harrington. “I’m having a week off.”

Wood was awarded the silver medal as the leading amateur finisher.

Lefty’s lament

Phil Mickelson was merely an afterthought at Royal Birkdale, a strange sensation considering he is the No. 2 player in the world and the highest-ranked player at this major.

Then again, this is the British Open, where he rarely contends.

This week was no exception. Mickelson birdied two of his last four holes to close with a 71, putting him at 14-over for the week. His only success was a 68 in the second round to make the cut. He tied for 19th, one week after he tied for 38th in the Scottish Open.

“I didn’t play to the level I would have liked,” Mickelson said. “I thought I hit a lot of good shots, but I really struggled on the greens and consequently, my score wasn’t what I would have liked.”

Garcia far from the lead

Sergio Garcia thought this might be his best chance to win a major considering that he lost in a playoff last year at Carnoustie and played in the final group the year before.

Instead, he closed with a 78 and tied for 51st, the worst finish of his career when he completes four rounds at the British Open.

Garcia shot 44 on the back nine, with consecutive double bogeys.

“I just went brain dead,” said Garcia. “I couldn’t think straight and didn’t make any good decisions.”