Ernie Els resisted the temptation to wallow in sentiment after completing what looks likely to be his 23rd and final appearance in the Masters.
"This tournament was just not for me," the four-time major winner said after weekend rounds of 83 and 78 at Augusta National, the latter completed alongside marker and club member Jeff Knox on Sunday.
Els was playing this week on the last year of a five-year exemption for winning the 2012 Open at Royal Lytham, but could still secure a return by finishing in the top four at the remaining majors this season or the top 50 in the world at the end of 2017.
However, the 47-year-old South African is currently ranked 410th and knows the odds are against him.
"It was nice to go around again and I didn't really feel that emotional just because of my play, if I played better it would have been a different feeling," Els said.
"My play was atrocious and that's the hard part to take. But if I look back at the 23 years here, how many professional golfers get the opportunity to play the Masters 23 times?
"Having a chance to win it a couple of times was special and this tournament was just not for me."
Els finished second to Vijay Singh in 2000 and was runner-up again in 2004, when he posted a closing 67 for the clubhouse lead before Phil Mickelson birdied three of the last 15 to win by one.
"I've won a lot of events around the world but this one just eluded me and that's fine," Els added. "There's still a chance (to return), I'm still trying to win a (PGA) Tour event to get to 20. If I get back great. It's not totally out of the picture, but if it is, it is.
"The first time in 1994 was very special, I had a couple of great groupings. I played with Ben Crenshaw that year, I played with Jose Maria Olazabal in the third round who went on to win. And the times I came close - 2004 was a really special Sunday.
"It's just been a special time. To have been part of it for 23 years is special. It's a place where you dream to get to, once or twice, so to do it for so long was great."
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