Furyk looks at the positives after Sherwood disappointment

THOUSAND OAKS, California (Reuters) - Jim Furyk refused to dwell on the negatives after failing to capitalize on a strong start to the final round of the Target World Challenge on Sunday.

The American world number three, six strokes behind leader Tiger Woods overnight, cut that deficit to two before sliding back into third place with a closing three-under-par 69.

"It was a good, positive week as far as I didn't expect to come in and play as well as I did and do so many good things," Furyk told reporters after finishing nine shots behind winner Woods.

"I'm disappointed in getting sloppy in spots, sloppy in the first round for a couple of holes and the third round for a couple of holes and then today for half of the back nine I was pretty sloppy.

"But I'm in a much better position than I expected. I'm going to take a little time off the next four or five days. I'm going on vacation with my family, and then after Christmas I'll start gearing up and I'll be ready to go."

Furyk, who had not played competitively for seven weeks before Thursday's opening round at Sherwood Country Club, piled the pressure on Woods with five birdies in the first eight holes on Sunday.

His title bid effectively ended with a three-putt bogey at the par-four 10th and his faint victory hopes were snuffed out by a double-bogey at the par-three 15th where he found water off the tee.

STAYING PATIENT

"My attitude probably wasn't as good as I needed on the back nine," the 2003 U.S. Open champion said.

"I talked yesterday about staying patient, not pressing the issue, and after 10 I think I started pressing the issue a little bit.

"I'm also disappointed because I had a really good opportunity today and you don't start six down to Tiger very often and cut it to two. I had a really good opportunity and wasn't able to take advantage of it.

"He played great on the back but I would have still liked to have done a lot better, done a lot better on the back nine."

While Furyk came into the tournament after a seven-week break, Woods was back in action for the first time since the Presidents Cup team competition in late September.

"Tiger's the best in the world and has more talent and also a harder work ethic than most people," Furyk said. "But he and the great players, such as (Jack) Nicklaus, have the ability to take that time off and come back.

"But I would be surprised if he walked in here and said he didn't do much preparation or didn't work hard to get to that spot. I'm sure he prepared at home and he wanted to show up at his own event and play well."

Woods, tournament host at the Target World Challenge, won his eighth title of the year by seven shots after closing with a four-under-par 68.

(Editing by Peter Rutherford)