Tiger Woods had a shot at continuing to prove himself otherworldly in the 2007 Masters Tournament. He ended up coming back down to earth a little bit.

Tiger Woods hangs his head after a disappointing approach on No. 1. The four-time Masters champ led at one point during the final round, but tied for second. (Chris Thelen/Staff)

Woods returned to the Champions Locker Room soon after finishing in a three-way tie for second behind champion Zach Johnson. He collected a few clubs and took off. He cut through the driving range on his way to the player's parking lot, leaving Augusta National Golf Club in his wake, escorted by four security guards and agent Mark Steinberg.

"It was the hardest Masters I think I've ever seen with the wind and the dryness and the speed of these greens," Woods said. "I told a couple of guys out here this week that I'm glad I don't have metal spikes. You could slip on these greens the things were so fast."

As he left the clubhouse behind, the question was whether he was going to the range for more practice. His well-known work ethic made it plausible.

That's because Woods didn't really look himself all week.

He left Augusta having missed a chance to win his third consecutive major championship. He was leaving the Masters with one thing still missing from his very impressive rsum.

He's never come from behind to win a major. He had a chance Sunday, holding the lead by himself after a birdie on No. 2. He soon lost it as the lead went from Retief Goosen to Rory Sabbatini to Goosen before Zach Johnson took hold of it on No. 13 and never let go.

It was the first time Woods lost the lead on the final day of a major and didn't get it back.

"He has such an amazing record, period," Vaughn Taylor said. "It was good to see him give it up a little bit. It lets us know we do have somewhat of a chance."

It was evident early that Sunday might not be Woods' day.

He broke a club on No. 10. His putter led him in the same direction of his third-place finish in 2006. He didn't break par in at least one round at the Masters for the first time as a professional.

"I had a chance," he said. "But looking back over the week, I basically blew this tournament with two rounds where I had bogey-bogey finishes. That's 4-over in two holes. The last two holes. You just can't afford to do that and win major championships."

An eagle on No. 13 had him heading in the right direction. But he wouldn't get any closer.

"I hit a perfect drive on 14 and ended up right in a divot," he said. "So I'm thinking 'Here we go.' I hit probably the best shot I hit all week out of that divot to give myself a putt at it. I hit a good putt. It just didn't go in."

Johnson soon added another birdie to extend his lead to three strokes, making Woods' comeback attempt even tougher.

Johnson still wasn't comfortable watching the four-time champion's approach shot into the 18th green, despite Woods needing to hole out to force a playoff.

"I don't know," Johnson said. "What do they say, 'A giant has got to fall at some point.' I was sitting in the locker room watching him hit his second shot and thought, 'You know. Well, he has done stranger things.' The guy's a phenom.

"The next person to come along like him, who knows how long it is going to be. It makes it that much more gratifying knowing that I beat Tiger Woods. No question about it."

Reach Jeff Sentell at (706) 823-3425 or jeff.sentell@augustachronicle.com.