Birdie blitz sees Rory clinch win
IN THE GROOVE: MCILROY ENDS HIS 18-MONTH DROUGHT
Miami
Rory McIlroy ended an 18-month PGA win drought in sensational fashion on Sunday with birdies on five of the last six holes to capture the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Four-time Major champion McIlroy outduelled American Bryson DeChambeau and Major winners Tiger Woods, Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson with an amazing putting display on the Bay Hill greens.
“It’s so nice to see everything come together,” McIlroy said.
He fired an eight-under-par 64 to finish 72 holes on 18-under 270 and defeat DeChambeau by three strokes.
“I’m just proud of myself to hang in there over the past few months with injury and everything,” McIlroy said.
The 28-year-old took his 14th US PGA Tour triumph, his first since the 2016 Tour Championship, and served notice he is a solid threat to complete a career Major Grand Slam by winning the Masters in three weeks.
McIlroy had not won since the day Palmer died in 2016 but snapped his skid on the course where Palmer used to greet winners as they exited the 18th green.
“It’s a little bit ironic that I come here and win,” McIlroy said. “He set a great example to all of us players. If all of us could handle ourselves the way Arnie did the world would be a better place.
“I wish I had walked up that hill to get a handshake from him but I’m so glad to put my name on that trophy.”
DeChambeau fired a closing 68 to take second on 273, one shot ahead of England’s Rose, who fired a 67, and two in front of Sweden’s Stenson with Woods and Ryan Moore fifth on 278.
McIlroy sank a 15-foot birdie putt at 13 and followed with a 21foot birdie putt at the par-3 14th to seize a two-stroke lead.
Stenson and DeChambeau each birdied 13 to pull within one shot, but McIlroy answered with a 40foot birdie chip from off the 15th green for his third birdie in a row and two-putted from 21 feet for birdie at the par-five 16th to seize a three-stroke advantage. –