Notes: Stricker fades badly in first appearance on major stage.

CARNOUSTIE, Scotland -- Steve Stricker is known as one of the better putters on the PGA Tour.

Playing in the final group of a major for the first time, his favorite club let him down. Big time.

Three shots off the lead and paired with front-running Sergio Garcia, Stricker never mounted a serious challenge at the British Open on Sunday. The American might have if not for three short misses on the front side - a 2-footer for birdie at No. 3, a 4-footer for birdie at No. 6, and a 5-footer to save par at the ninth.

"I hit it fine, but I didn't get it in the hole," Stricker said. "I was a little hesitant with the putting and it showed. I would've liked to have see what would've happened if I'd made a couple of birdie putts early on."

He didn't, making the turn with a 1-over 37 and settling for a 3-over 74 - 10 strokes worse than his 64 in the third round, the lowest score ever for an Open played at Carnoustie.

Stricker wound up with a 3-under 281, four shots back in a tie for eighth. Garcia lost to Padraig Harrington in a playoff.

"It was a great experience," Stricker said. "You can't pay for an experience like that, playing in the last group of a major."

But, he added, "Overall, it's disappointing."

Major moments

Mahan made the cut on the number, then had the best weekend at Carnoustie. He shots rounds of 69-65 to move into a tie for sixth, and the top 15 are automatically exempt for next year's Open.

Mahan qualified for the Masters by winning the Travelers Championship in Hartford last month, a victory that also gets him into the PGA Championship. A month ago, he tied for 15th in the U.S. Open to ensure a trip to Torrey Pines next year.

"I felt I could play here," Mahan said. "I kept plodding along and found my swing. It's been neat this week. There's been an electric atmosphere."

Now he'll get to experience all four majors in 2008.

Mahan wasn't the only one who claimed somewhat of a consolation prize.