What happened at the Arnold Palmer Invitational?
Five birdies in his last six holes catapulted Rory McIlroy to his 14th win on the PGA Tour after a dazzling closing round of 64 – and his first as a married man and with his best mate Harry Diamond on the bag.
His last win came at the 2016 Tour Championship which was the same day as Arnold Palmer, the godfather and owner of Bay Hill, passed away.
The 28-year-old, who had missed two cuts in four previous starts with a best showing of T20, suddenly put it all together on Sunday to hold off an impressive Bryson DeChambeau.
McIlroy was the epitome of patience as his early birdie putts just stayed above ground but then things began to move in the right direction with three birdies at the 6th, 7th and 9th. He then went into overdrive on the back nine with a birdie at 13 to lead for the first time, added a 25-footer at the next and then chipped in at 15 (see below).
The two-putt birdie at 16, after a 377-yard tee shot to leave 119 into the par 5, was relatively dull.
But DeChambeau also picked up a shot at 13 and then made the most unlikely of eagles at 16 to stay within one but, up ahead at the last, McIlroy was rolling in yet another 25-footer for a back nine of 31. The American just missed out on his birdie at 17 and that was that.
Justin Rose, four over after six holes on Thursday and playing with McIlroy, didn’t drop a shot in his 67 but he would come up four short of his Ryder Cup team-mate in third. The overnight leader Henrik Stenson did plenty right but he couldn’t get the pace of the greens and he would sign for a 71 to finish in fourth on his own.
And for the second Sunday running we had another Tiger Woods charge as the 14-time major winner racked up the birdies to close within one of McIlroy and Stenson. But, just as we were all preparing to give him another one at the giveaway par-15 16th, he put his driver in someone’s back garden.
There was a tap-in birdie with his second ball but his race was run and he holed from the fringe on the last, the scene of eight of his wins on the PGA Tour, for a par, a 69, a share of fifth and another huge sign that he is getting better with every showing.
So far in 2018 Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm, Jason Day, Bubba Watson, Justin Thomas, Phil Mickelson, Paul Casey have all won – and now McIlroy.
We all keep saying it but roll on Augusta..
Talking Point
Best Quote?
Bryson DeChambeau on the state of his back – “Well it was the QL and that really got inflamed for me. It was because my quadratus lumborum wasn’t working, my illiacus, longissimus thoracis, they were all kind of over working, if you want to get technical on that. Pretty much my lower right back was hurting and I rested it. How about that?”
Moments of the Week?
It's not over yet. pic.twitter.com/aODssu0W8t
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 18, 2018
? THREE ? STRAIGHT ?@McIlroyRory can't miss!#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/9GaGvQb3ay
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 18, 2018
Five ? on his last nine holes.
McIlroy is on ??? #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/9R3GKiGNQj
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 18, 2018
OB on 16 pic.twitter.com/fC37U6KsKm
— Skratch (@Skratch) March 18, 2018
Hit a house.
That'll do. #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/qCVPZy5w5g
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 18, 2018
Stuffed. ?
Rory knows how to close out a round.#ShotOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/zJyeBPZAp3
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 18, 2018
In the ?. Over ?. Over ?.#MustSeeMoments pic.twitter.com/UIMJyfAw4H
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 17, 2018
That's a walk-off!@JimmyWalkerPGA eagles 18 and takes the lead @APInv. #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/hrldkUzzBM
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 15, 2018
No lead is safe from the shank. pic.twitter.com/1lCYOgXu5f
— Skratch (@Skratch) March 16, 2018
Best Stats
Rory McIlroy: leads field in driving distance, scrambling and strokes gained putting.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGC) March 18, 2018
Henrik Stenson had 20 putts today.
As far back as the data goes (25 years), there is no other instance of a player having 20 or fewer putts in a round at Bay Hill.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGC) March 15, 2018
Best Tweets
Tiger had a few autograph requests after the round. pic.twitter.com/C9CjDaCgPL
— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelESPN) March 17, 2018
Honestly … I thought he was going to hit a wedge !!! Without question one of the top 10 shots I’ve ever witnessed !! .. @TigerWoods ??? https://t.co/nGPI5cuapD
— Dick fulchers lad (@Fooch1993) March 17, 2018
Comeback kid today…. pic.twitter.com/c8a2vhDgpO
— Justin Rose (@JustinRose99) March 15, 2018
We teamed up with @PumaGolf and @RickieFowler to design and create a series of custom shoes and caps that you can win – with proceeds going to #ArniesArmy! Learn more here: https://t.co/4svHjlmlAm #LifeWellPlayed pic.twitter.com/hKaFOGj4ja
— Arnie's Army (@ArniesArmyCF) March 12, 2018