NICK FALDO failed in his bid to enter this week's US Open with a seventh American victory under his belt at Potomac, Maryland, yesterday.

Faldo bogeyed the last two holes of the Kemper Open and had to settle for joint third place. three behind winner Justin Leonard.

The real story though, was the collapse of Leonard's fellow American Mark Wiebe, who missed two tiny putts on the final two greens to hand the title to his compatriot. He had been four clear after seven, but three-putted four of the last 11 holes.

Faldo had a hat-trick of birdies from the 13th to be only two behind, but pulled a five-iron into sand at the short 17th and pushed his approach wide of the final green.

Failing to get up and down on both occasions meant he finished with a 71 and seven under par total of 277, the same as Greg Norman, Nick Price and Mike Springer.

Faldo, winner of the Nissan Open in Los Angeles in March, nevertheless heads for the second major of the year at Congressional near Washington having finished joint second and joint third in his last two tournaments.

That runners-up place was in the Volvo PGA championship at Wentworth two weeks ago.