Farmingdale, N.Y. ? El Nino pulled an El Foldo.

Sergio Garcia, who relished the opportunity of going head-to-head with Tiger Woods Sunday in the final round of the U.S. Open, waggled and stumbled his way to a disappointing 4-over-par 74 on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park.

	A brief look at Sunday’s final round of the U.S. Open: Winner: Tiger Woods, who shot a 2-over-par 72 to win by three shots with a 277 total.Who’s Next: Phil Mickelson, with an even-par 70 for 280, followed by Jeff Maggert at 282 and Sergio Garcia at 283.How Many: It was the second U.S. Open title for Woods and his eighth major title, tying him with Tom Watson. Only Jack Nicklaus, Walter Hagen, Ben Hogan and Gary Player have won more.What’s Next: Woods will try for the third leg of the Grand Slam next month in the British Open at Muirfield.How Much: Woods earned $1 million for the win, his 39th worldwide since turning pro in 1996.Notable: Woods has won as many major championships in the last three years seven as Arnold Palmer did in his career.

Garcia, who began the day four strokes behind Woods, blew an early opportunity to close the gap and never threatened. Garcia’s ballyhooed showdown with Woods, fueled by the Spaniard’s controversial remarks on Friday, fizzled like a damp firecracker.

“I really felt that if I started just a little better, this could’ve been a great, great tournament,” said Garcia, who faded to fourth place, six shots behind his rival.

Woods gave Garcia a wonderful chance, bogeying the first two holes. This was the time to make a move, and Garcia knew it.

“I thought he was a little nervous and he felt the pressure,” Garcia said. “It was important to show him that I wasn’t going to back down.”

Which is precisely what he did. Garcia, undermined by his putter, bogeyed the third, seventh and ninth holes, going out in 38. Basically, he was cooked right there. For the remainder of the afternoon and evening, he was simply an extra in the Tiger Woods Show.

Say this for the charismatic Garcia: He was gracious in defeat, even tossing a few kind words to the New York fans the same fans who heckled him throughout the tournament.

“Some guys said some things, but it was the minority,” he said. “I know most of the people were rooting for me. It wasn’t an easy week for me. It was a pretty tough week. It made me mature. It made me stronger mentally.”

Garcia stirred a controversy on Friday, making an apparent obscene gesture to the raucous fans and later claiming that Woods had received preferential treatment from the USGA. The next day, Garcia said he regretted the remarks.

He put a note of apology in Woods’ locker.

Instead of writing letters, Garcia should’ve been on the driving range. Afterward, he kept harping on the start of the round, when he blew chances to make up ground.

“He’s still human,” Garcia said of Woods. “I had my chance and I didn’t take it. If you don’t take advantage of your chances on a Sunday at the U.S. Open, being four shots behind, you usually don’t win against a guy like him.”

Garcia said he enjoyed playing with Woods. He also said he enjoyed his New York experience. That might be a case of spin-doctoring. It was definitely unforgettable. He will go home with a few nicknames.

As for his winless record in majors, Garcia vowed to get his share someday.

“Hopefully,” he said, “one day I’ll be able to say, ‘I’m the U.S. Open champion.'”