Palmer victory sends McIlroy back into the winner’s circle

The loudest roars at Bay Hill were for Tiger Woods. The last ones were for Rory McIlroy.

McIlroy left some indelible images of his own Sunday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational with a back-nine charge that would have made the King proud, and a final putt on the 18th green that a delirious gallery had seen for so many years from Woods.

McIlroy ran off five birdies during his last six holes and closed with an 8-under 64 for a three-shot victory. He won for the first time since the Tour Championship on Sept. 25, 2016, the day Palmer died.

“I wish I walked up that hill and got a handshake from him,” McIlroy said. “But I’m so happy to put my name on that trophy.”

The lone Canadian to make the cut, Hamilton native Mackenzie Hughes, finished tied for 54th and was even for the tournament.

Bay Hill was rocking all afternoon, mostly for that red shirt. Woods, who started the final round five shots behind, made three birdies in a four-hole stretch to start the back nine and was within shot of the lead as everyone behind him on the course appeared to stall.

Woods finished bogey-bogey-par for a 3-under 69 and tumbled down the leaderboard into a tie for fifth.

McIlroy left his putt about 25 feet above the hole on No. 18, roughly the same spot from where Woods made birdie putts to win in 2001, 2008 and 2009. Woods slammed his cap to the ground in 2008, not realizing he had done that.

McIlroy buried the putt, raised both arms in the air and turned to pump his fist as the grandstands erupted with cheers.

“I’ve seen Tiger make that enough times to know what it does,” McIlroy said. “So I just wanted to try and emulate that. Didn’t quite give it the hat toss — I was thinking about doing it. But just to be able to create my own little bit of history on the 18th green here is pretty special.”