Leishman’s eagle ends McIlroy’s hopes of victory

Australia’s Marc Leishman produced a brilliant finish to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational as Rory McIlroy just failed to pull off a remarkable victory yesterday.

Leishman carded a closing 69 at Bay Hill to claim his second PGA Tour title by a single shot from Americans Kevin Kisner and Charley Hoffman, with McIlroy a shot further back alongside England’s Tyrrell Hatton.

An eagle from 50 feet on the 16th gave Leishman the lead for the first time and the 33-year-old, who lost a play-off for the Open Championship in 2015, scrambled pars on the last two holes to set the clubhouse target on 11 under par.

Kisner was unable to find the birdie he needed to force a play-off in the closing stretch, while Hoffman bogeyed the 17th but birdied the last to secure a share of second.

McIlroy had been four over par after two holes of his second round and despite a flawless 65 on Saturday, started the final day five shots off the lead shared by Kisner and Hoffman. But by the time he had recorded his seventh birdie of the day on the 16th, the four-time major winner had moved into a share of the lead with the American pair.

However, McIlroy then heard the roar as Leishman made his unlikely eagle on 16 and, knowing he needed to make a birdie, charged his first putt four feet past the hole and missed the return.

“I thought going out today if I could shoot anything in the 60s it would be a good score,” McIlroy told Sky Sports 4 after signing for a closing 69.

“Obviously I was trying to shoot a couple lower than that but overall played well, I’m really pleased with how I went this weekend and can take a lot of positives from it,” he added.

Speaking about the 18th, McIlroy said: “I saw Leishman eagle 16 so I thought I really needed to try and hole it and I was overly aggressive, but it’s been a good week and a great weekend.

“I can’t complain too much. I had two chances on 17 and 18 there, but hopefully I can get back up on the horse next week and try and get a win at the (WGC-Dell Technologies) Match Play.”

McIlroy will have the consolation of moving to second in the world rankings when they are updated today, while Leishman’s victory secures his place in the Masters.