RORY MCILROY was left to rue what might have been after two great closing rounds left him tied for third at the British Open in St Andrews.

McIlroy carded five birdies to record a final round of 68 and finish on -8 for the week, just one behind Lee Westwood in second – but a full seven shots behind eventual winner Louis Oosthuizen on -16.

But despite recording his best ever finish in a Major, McIlroy still lamented his horrific round on Friday, which saw him shoot an eight-over 80 just a day after a Majors record of 63 put him on -9 after day one.

“I couldn’t help but think about Friday going up the last hole there,” he said. “You know, if I had just sort of stuck in a little bit more on Friday and held it together more, it could have been a different story.”

The undoubted star of the day was Oosthuizen, however. The South African – who had only ever made the cut at a Major once before – took the lead after McIlroy’s Friday collapse and never let it go.

A final round of 71 was more than enough to see him keep charge of the leaderboard, where many had assumed the inexperienced player would squander his surplus.

“After the 12th hole it actually became difficult having such a big lead, to keep calm, and I’m glad I had those [seven spare] shots on 18 because I cramped a little with the putter,” Oosthuizen said.

US Open champions Graeme McDowell shot a final day 70 to die for 23rd on -3, with Colm Moriarty (a final day 70) and Shane Lowry (75) both lying two shots back and tying for 37th. Darren Clarke (71) was another shot back.