SOUTHPORT, England — Take this as either a consolation prize or more torment. Greg Norman has an offer to return to the Masters, which invites the top four players and ties from the British Open.

"Time out," Norman said Sunday, motioning with his hands. "I've got a lot of water to go over the dam to get to that."

Norman last played the Masters in 2002 when he received a special foreign exemption and tied for 36th, and there was no guarantee he would show up next April. Despite his remarkable performance at Royal Birkdale, the 53-year-old Norman said it did not inspire him to start playing more golf.

He will be at Royal Troon next week for the Senior British Open, then the Broadmoor in Colorado for the U.S. Senior Open, and he has no plans anywhere else the rest of the year.

The coveted invitations might mean more to Ian Poulter, who finished second, and Henrik Stenson, who tied for third, although both are high enough in the top 50 that they might have gotten in, anyway.

Chris Wood, the 20-year-old amateur from England, bogeyed the final hole, and that cost him. A par would have given him a tie for third and a ticket to the Masters.

The top 15 are guaranteed a trip to Turnberry for the British Open, so at least Wood won't have to go through qualifying.

The British Open exempts the top 15, although that didn't affect too many players. David Howell of England, whose 67 was the best score of the final round, was exempt this year from winning the BMW PGA Championship in 2005. That exemption expires this year.