Tiger Woods: Former Masters champion wears somber look as he waves to crowd after putting out on the No. 2 hole on Sunday. Michael Holahan/Chronicle Staff

By John Boyette
Chronicle Staff

Tiger Woods reached more greens in regulation than anybody else, hitting 50 out of 72, at this year's Masters Tournament.

But his putting troubles continued, and he finished nine strokes behind winner Jose Maria Olazabal.

``I hit the ball all over on the West Coast, and I made everything I looked at,'' Woods said after his final-round 75. ``Then I came to the East Coast, and I hit it well, and I haven't made anything.''

Woods needed 126 putts, which ranked him next to last among the 56 players who made the cut. Only Vijay Singh took more strokes on the greens. Olazabal, on the other hand, hit just 44 greens but needed only 109 putts.

Trailing by five shots after 54 holes, the 1997 champion knew he would have to shoot under par to have a chance. But he double-bogeyed the fifth hole -- his second shot ended up in bushes behind the green, and he pitched on and three-putted -- en route to a 40 on the front nine.

On the back nine, he made two birdies to offset one bogey. For the week, he wound up at 1-over-par 289.

``I just didn't make the putts today,'' he said. ``I didn't give myself a whole lot of opportunities.''

Except for the lengthening of the par-5 second hole, Woods said, he generally liked the changes made to the course in the past year.

``It helps all the power hitters,'' he said. ``It tests your driving this year, and I like that.''

But Woods, who set the 72-hole scoring record with his 18-under-par performance two years ago, thinks someone still can better that mark.

``Absolutely,'' Woods said, ``if you drive the ball here, because the greens have slowed down.''

Woods got off to a good start this year, finishing in the top five in five of his first six events. That included a victory in the Buick Invitational, where he shot 62 in the third round.

But since the PGA Tour came to Florida last month, Woods hasn't challenged in the three events he has played. He tied for 56th at Bay Hill and tied for 10th at The Players Championship. This week, he will play in the MCI Classic in Hilton Head Island, S.C., for the first time.

``I just tried to play steady. I tried to hit fairways and greens,'' he said. ``I feel I played good.''