Leishman holds off McIlroy to win Bay Hill title
MIAMI: Australia’s Marc Leishman sank a 51- foot eagle putt on the 16th hole Sunday and held off a charging Rory McIlroy and two others to capture the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
One-putting the last four holes at Bay Hill, the 33-year- old Aussie surged late to claim his first US victory since 2012.
“It just all came together,” Leishman said. “To do it here is really good. It was just an unbelievable day.”
Leishman fired a final- round three- under par 69 to stand on 11- under 277 for 72 holes at the famed Orlando, Florida, layout in the first event since the death of tournament namesake Palmer, the golf legend who had hosted the event annually.
“Mr. Palmer was a very special guy,” Leishman said.
“To win it in honor of him was huge.”
Americans Kevin Kisner and Charley Hoffman, co- leaders entering the final round, each fired 73s to share second on 278 with McIlroy and England’s Tyrell Hatton sharing fourth on 279 and Canada’s Adam Hadwin on 280. — AFP