Wood filled with pride after close call at Turnberry

TURNBERRY, Scotland (Reuters) - Unheralded Briton Chris Wood produced the round of his life at the British Open on Sunday, coming within a whisker of claiming a shock victory in the year's third major.

In testing conditions, the 21-year-old Englishman fired a three-under-par 67 to end the final round just one stroke short of joining Americans Tom Watson and Stewart Cink in a playoff.

"I just felt so proud of myself to stay in every shot," Wood told reporters after posting a one-under total of 279 on Turnberry's Ailsa Course to share third place with compatriot Lee Westwood.

"I knew exactly where I wanted to hit every shot and I felt like I did that."

A costly bogey at the par-four last came after Wood failed to get up and down from behind the green after hitting an adrenalin-fueled approach.

"I have never hit a nine-iron 210 yards in my life, so probably a little bit of adrenalin, a bit of a flier," Wood said of his second shot.

"I hit a good shot and it landed on the line exactly how I wanted. It just absolutely went miles."

Despite overshooting the green with his approach, the confident Englishman felt he still had a chance of Open glory.

DIFFICULT SHOT

"I thought, well, I've hit this shot (the chip) so many times I actually fancied to hole it," he said. "It's difficult to play a shot out of the thick rough when you're nervous.

"I hit as good a shot as I can and hit a great putt, it just didn't go in for me."

Wood, who turned professional after tying for fifth in last year's British Open at Royal Birkdale, came into this week with four top-10 finishes in his debut season on the European Tour.

"I think it's better (than last year)," he said of his Turnberry display. "To follow it up as a professional is about as good as I could have hoped for.

"Last year (at Birkdale) I think helped me an awful lot today. It is weird to think I'm only 21 and I've contended in two majors already.

"The experiences I've got out of the Open ... they're going to be amazing for my career."

An added bonus for the Briton was his third-place check for 255,000 pounds ($415,800), easily the largest of his fledgling career.

"I've just got a new flat and I need to pay the rent for that, so I should be all right," he said with a smile.

(Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)