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 The Australian's prospects of claiming back to back titles were
already a long shot after he started the final day six shots behind
the eventual winner Bubba Watson.
Scott knew that he needed to shoot a low score to put any pressure
on the leaders but try as he might he was unable to mount a
challenge.
Scott closed with a 72 to finish the tournament at one-over-par,
nine strokes behind Watson in a tie for 14th.
"I wasn't really thinking about anything, other than trying to right
the ship and try to get something going," he said.
"That was just the story of my weekend with some sloppy stuff around
the greens, and that doesn't bode well here."
Scott became the first Australian to win the Masters when he beat
Angel Cabrera in a thrilling playoff last year and made a flying
start to his title defense when he opened with a three-under-par 69.
He salvaged a 72 in the second round after playing in tough
conditions when the wind started to blow but tumbled down the
leaderboard with a third round 76.
The 33-year-old was one of the best players of the tournament off
the tee, hitting long and accurate drives, but struggled badly on
the greens.
"It's not been my best week with the putter. My pace was off on the
long putts," he said.
"And when it gets on fire around here, you're going to have a lot of
long putts. And I left so much work with them, that nothing was
talking distance.
"I missed my share of them and had some three-putts and it just
makes it very hard to have really good scores every day around
here."
Scott has been a regular contender at the Masters in recent years
after making his move on the final day. In addition to winning last
year, he finished tied for second in 2011.
For a brief moment, Scott looked like he was about to make another
charge on Sunday when he reeled off three birdies in a row from the
seventh hole, but he could not maintain it on the back nine, where
he has excelled in recent years.
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"A poor nine holes on Saturday stopped all my momentum and had me on
the back foot and I just couldn't go anywhere from there," he said.
"That's what it's like at majors. You're nine good holes from
winning it and nine bad holes from being out of it.
"Without being too critical I think I just played an average nine
holes and that was going to make it hard for me."
Despite his disappointment, Scott said he loved the whole experience
of defending the title, from hosting the annual champions dinner to
presenting Watson with the green jacket in Butler Cabin.
"It's been a week I'll never forget," he said.
"The experiences I've had in playing a tournament as the defending
champion and as a champion, and all the ovations that you receive
around here is amazing memories for me."
(Editing by Gene Cherry)
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