‘‘I suppose if they had been bothered my name would have been on the leaderboard coming down the last,’’ said Westwood, who has missed the last two halfway cuts.

‘‘It would have been nice and the first time in a while, but unfortunately it wasn’t.’’

Westwood, European number one two seasons ago, has gone 19 months without a win and will miss out on the US Open next month unless he finishes in the top three on Sunday and climbs back into the world’s leading 50 players.

He did not hit a green in regulation until the 11th hole, but his short game kept his hopes alive.

Asked what was wrong with his long game he replied: ‘‘You name it I’ve got it. But I do feel I’m going in the right direction.’’

Nick Faldo, third last year, needs first or second to make the US Open, although he has entered the final qualifying tournament in Maryland on Monday week.

The six-time major champion, hiding any hurt he might feel about not being awarded a special invitation to New York, was three under after eight holes, but double-bogeyed the ninth and finished with 71.

‘‘I couldn’t hit a fairway. It was a real scramble,’’ he said, echoing Westwood.