Tiger Woods was left to reflect on what might have been after a near-miss at The Masters.

The four-time champion started the final day seven shots off the pace but after a front nine of 31 - just one off the tournament record - Woods had charged into the joint lead.

Had he holed an eagle putt on the 15th, Woods would have moved into the outright lead. However, he missed his three-footer and had to settle for birdie.

That was as good as it got for the American, who, after carding a round of 67, finished four shots behind champion Charl Schwartzel in a tie for fourth. He was left to regret not doing more on the inward nine.

He said: "I got off to a nice start there and posted 31 and then on the back nine could have capitalised some more.

"I should have shot an easy three or four under on the back nine, and I only posted even. But I was right there in the thick of it."

Woods remains without a victory in almost 18 months but his performance at Augusta - where he finishes in the top six for the seventh successive year - suggests a win is not far away.