Fisher previous best at a major was a tie for 30th at the 2009 Augusta Masters

England's Ross Fisher insists he can challenge the world's greatest players after finishing fifth at the US Open, his best ever result at a major.

The 28-year-old was in contention until the final hole at Bethpage but American qualifier Lucas Glover took victory.

"I can now compete with the best players in the world," he said.

"This is where you want to be - to have a chance of winning a major is something I'll never forget. I'm absolutely shattered now."

Wentworth-based Fisher hit more putts than any other player in the top 18 finishers in New York and was quick to pinpoint his troubles on the green for his overall failure to emerge as the first Briton to win the US Open since Tony Jacklin in 1970.

I could have sunk just a couple of putts I think I could have won this comfortably England's Ross Fisher

"I can't wait to get home and go and work on my putting because if I could have sunk just a couple of putts I think I could have won this comfortably," he said.

"It's been a really frustrating week, probably the best I've ever hit the ball tee to green. I just couldn't get it in the hole. But it's been a phenomenal week and I've really enjoyed it."

Fisher, who romped to a seven-shot victory at the European Open last year, closed to within a stroke of the lead in the weather-delayed final round on Monday before slipping back into fifth to finish one-under-par, three shots adrift of Glover.

Three of his poor putts came at the par-four 12th hole, where he was in position to make a birdie before missing his par attempt from just 18 inches.

"That kind of stopped me in my tracks," he added.

"But it just shows how good a mental strength I have that I can bounce back and hit two of the best shots I've hit all week and finally holed a putt for an eagle. That got me back into it."

606: DEBATE Where can Ross Fisher go from here?

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy hit an encouraging final round of 68 and immediately looked ahead to improving on his 10th place tie over the course of the season.

"It could have been a little better but overall I'm very pleased with how I finished," said the 20-year-old.

"It's another good performance in a major this year and gives me a lot of confidence going into the rest of the season."

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