Golf

Rory McIlroy finishes tied third as Marc Leishman wins Bay Hill Invitational

Rory McIlroy finished tied third at the Bay Hill Invitational behind Marc Leishman
Rory McIlroy finished tied third at the Bay Hill Invitational behind Marc Leishman Rory McIlroy finished tied third at the Bay Hill Invitational behind Marc Leishman

RORY McIlroy came very close to his first win of 2017 last night when his weekend charge fell two shots short in the Bay Hill Invitational in Florida.

The World number three found himself 11 shots off the lead at the halfway stage, but a seven-under 65 on Saturday left him on the heels of the leaders going into Sunday's final round.

Seven birdies in his final round would have been just what the doctor ordered for the Holywood man, but four bogeys, including a three-putt on the last hole cost him the chance of victory, despite a round of 69.

That last hole aberration didn't matter in the end as Australia's Marc Leishman capitalised on holing a monster eagle putt on the 16th hole to move to 11-under overall.

Knowing he needed birdie on the last to get to 11-under, McIlroy ran his attempt seven-feet past and missed the par return to drop back to nine-under and a tie for third alongside England's Tyrrell Hatton, one shot behind Kevin Kisner and Charley Hoffman, who were tied for second on 10-under.