England's Lee Westwood refused to dwell on the negatives after falling agonisingly one stroke short of a play-off for the US Open.

The 35-year-old, aiming to become the first European winner since fellow Englishman Tony Jacklin in 1970, had to settle for third place after missing a 20-foot birdie putt on the final hole.

"I'm a little bit gutted but pretty satisfied in general," Westwood said after carding a two-over-par 73 on the South Course at Torrey Pines. "[I am] delighted with how my short game held up under pressure and I am pleased with myself.

"I felt pretty calm out there, a little bit nervous, a few butterflies but I thought I stuck in there well. It is just very fine margins."

Westwood, who led the field by a stroke with nine holes to play in the final round, posted an even-par total of 284. The title will be decided on Monday June 16 in an 18-hole playoff between Americans Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate.

Although Westwood stumbled after the turn with bogeys on 10, 12 and 13, he refused to give up and drove the green at the par-four 14th to set up his second birdie of the day.

"I knew I wasn't out of it and I had to keep telling myself that," the former world number four said after securing his best major finish. "I had made a couple of mistakes but a lot can happen over the last few holes and it normally does.

"The only thing I was disappointed all day about was the swing on the 13th where I hooked it into the hazard there. Apart from that, I thought I played pretty great all week."

Westwood, an 18-time European Tour winner who had previously recorded five top-10 finishes in major championships, was delighted with his first genuine chance to secure a grand slam title.

"There is far more importance placed on major championship and so the pressure and the rewards are greater and you have to know that you can handle those," he said.

"It is my first real attempt at being in contention to win a major and so to come up one short and to have a chance at the play-off at the last was pretty good."

Westwood's previous best effort in Majors was fourth place in the 2004 Open at Royal Troon.

Reuters