Ernie Els has played well at times in his seven Masters appearances, but his performance on Sunday was something he'd only dreamed about.

``I don't remember playing this well at Augusta - ever,'' he said.

It was one of his best rounds at Augusta National Golf Club, and it was the best round of the day. But Els' bogey-free round of 4-under par 68 wasn't enough to overtake Vijay Singh, who won his first Masters by three strokes to deny Els his third victory in a major tournament.

``It wasn't meant to be for me this week,'' he said.

Els, who finished with a 7-under par 281, wasn't without his opportunities. After he birdied No. 15 to go 7-under and 4-under for the day, he left his tee shot within eight feet of the pin on the par-3 16th.

But the 30-year-old missed the downhill putt and was forced to settle for his costliest par of the tournament; shortly thereafter, Singh bogeyed No. 16 to drop to 9-under. Had Els birdied it, he would've been a mere stroke behind.

``Coming into 16, 17 and 18, I was really trying to push hard,'' he said. ``I knew I had to birdie each hole coming in.''

Els went on to miss 12-foot birdie putts on the 17th and 18th.

``I couldn't get it online,'' said Els, who won the U.S. Open in 1994 and 1997. ``On the back nine, I had birdie putts on each and every hole. I had an eagle putt on 13.''

Els' best finish here was a tie for eighth in 1994, his first Masters appearance. He was in contention throughout on this trip, entering Sunday's round at 3-under and four strokes behind Singh.

The South African's frustration almost boiled over late when, as he stood over a birdie putt on No. 18, a photographer's shutter snapped early, forcing Els to step away from the ball.

``Some guy just did it way ahead of time,'' Els said. ``I wasn't even taking the putter back and he was off. He wasn't doing his job properly.''

Els missed the 6-foot putt and tapped in for par. After he pulled the ball from the hole, he began to heave it in the direction of the photographer but thought better of it and walked off the green.

In his post-round press conference, Els said whoever had the quick trigger finger ``should never take a golf picture in his life again.''

``If I don't make the putt, I still lose,'' said Els, whose best PGA Tour finish this year was second at the Mercedes Championship. ``But at least I would've given Vijay a chance to think about it.''

Els still found solace in his performance, particularly in light of what happened in his last Masters appearance.

He entered Sunday a mere three strokes behind leader Jose Maria Olazabal but suffered a severe meltdown, incurring bogeys on holes 3, 4 and 5 to set in motion an 8-over 80, his worst round ever here.

Els began to push that bitter experience from memory last Friday, when he birdied three of the last four holes to shoot a 67, his best Masters round in six years.

Els began the week with just two sub-70 rounds at the Masters. He left with two more.

``This year, I was a totally different player,'' he said. ``I felt I was going to win. I felt like I was going to win the tournament on the first tee ... I had my chances, it just wasn't meant to be.''