South African Ernie Els posted yet another top-10 finish at the Open but once again failed to claim the top prize.

The 38-year-old, victor at Muirfield in 2002 and also a double US Open winner, is in a career slump having not recorded a first-place finish since March 2008.

He has slipped from world number one 11 years ago to 24th in the rankings but his Open record is remarkably consistent, with 13 top-11 finishes in 19 appearances - the first of which was as an amateur way back in 1989.

Els, after rounds of 69, 72 and 72, was well-placed to claim the outright clubhouse lead but he bogeyed the par-four 16th and then missed a 12-foot eagle putt at the next which would have taken him to one under.

To compound matters, with only a regulation four needed at the last to set a realistic level-par target, he went through the back of the green with his approach, could not get up and down and eventually finished joint eighth.

A clearly frustrated Els declined a request to speak to reporters after his round.