Woods hat trick dream disappears in the wet

CARNOUSTIE, Scotland, July 22 (Reuters) Tiger Woods's dream of a third consecutive British Open victory was sunk in the wet of Carnoustie today when he finished five behind playoff combatants Sergio Garcia and Padraig Harrington.

The world No 1 was aiming to become the first man since Australian Peter Thomson in 1956 to win three claret jugs in a row.

But he never threatened and closed on two-under 282 after a final-round 70.

''It would have been nice if I had hit the ball a little better and just given myself a chance,'' Woods told reporters.

''I feel like I putted beautifully all week but I couldn't get them close enough ... and subsequently I was on the periphery of trying to win a championship.

''If I had posted six or seven under today I would have been right there in the mix.'' Woods, 31, who has 12 major wins behind him, finished tied second at the US Masters and US Open earlier this year.

REUTERS RJ PM0005