Rory McIlroy celebrates winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational
Rory McIlroy celebrates winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational

Arnold Palmer Invitational: Rory McIlroy wins Bay Hill thriller


Rory McIlroy secured his first title since September 2016 with a stunning back-nine charge at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, on what was among the most thrilling Sundays in memory.

Leaderboard

-18 Rory McIlroy

-15 Bryson DeChambeau

-14 Justin Rose

-13 Henrik Stenson

-10 Tiger Woods, Ryan Moore

Day four report

Rory McIlroy secured his first title since September 2016 with a stunning back-nine charge at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, on what was among the most thrilling Sundays in recent memory.

A bogey-free 64, McIlroy's best of the week, saw him secure a 14th PGA Tour title and first since he clinched the TOUR Championship and accompanying FedEx Cup bonus 18 months ago. That victory came on the day the golfing world lost Arnold Palmer, and this was a performance of the brilliance and flair for which The King himself was known.

Starting the final round two shots back of Henrik Stenson, McIlroy's challenge came to life with three birdies in four holes approaching the turn, but it was holes 13, 14 and 15 where he took command.

Having failed to birdie the par-five 12th, McIlroy holed from just off the green at the short 13th before a 21-foot putt at the par-three 14th handed him a two-shot lead. Then, having missed the green at the difficult 15th, he produced a moment of pure magic to chip in for another birdie. A fourth in succession followed at the straightforward 16th, at which point the contest appeared to be over.

Stenson, who had seen his advantage over McIlroy cut to a single shot when he bogeyed the eighth hole after a clumsy three-putt, responded with a birdie of his own at the 13th to briefly move back within one, and was almost level again only for his birdie attempt at the 14th to lip out just as McIlroy holed his chip.

But the Swede ultimately paid the price for a more defensive game-plan than McIlroy, who was in full flight by the time he launched a drive 375 yards down the 16th, leaving no more than a wedge for his second into the par-five on his way to the simplest of fours.

Playing alongside McIlroy, Justin Rose also found birdies at holes 12, 14 and 16 to stay within touching distance but it was Bryson DeChambeau who emerged as the final challenger, making a stunning eagle at the par-five to move within one just as McIlroy's attempt for a fifth birdie in succession had missed at the 17th.

With the Masters less than a month away, this felt like a trial run for Augusta and much of that was down to Tiger Woods, who was also within one of the lead until driving out-of-bounds at the par-five 16th, ultimately dropping a shot just as those around him began to charge, before giving away another at the 17th.

Woods had responded to a bogey at the ninth with three birdies in four holes from the 10th, but his Achilles heel - waywardness from the tee - returned to end his title challenge just as it had looked set to ignite.

As Woods made his way to the clubhouse with a closing par to finish in a share of fifth, it was left to McIlroy to fend off the challenge of DeChambeau with two more imperious shots to the last as one final, exhilarating birdie saw bookmakers slash his Masters price.

"It was awesome," said McIlroy. "I've missed it, I really have missed it. I'm really proud of myself, and just so happy to get the win.

"I was even par through five, I kept telling myself to be patient. I think I gave myself a chance for birdie on every hole except 15 - and I made birdie there!

"I played a perfect round of golf."

At 28 years old, McIlroy will return to Augusta to once again bid for a career grand slam, and on this form would be hard to stop. The season's first major promises to be among the most enthralling in years. It will do well to top a renewal of the Arnold Palmer Invitational which was fit to carry such a name.

Day three

Henrik Stenson takes a one shot lead into the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Bay Hill, Florida.

The Swede carded a third round 71 to move to 12 under par, one shot ahead of Bryson DeChambeau and two clear of Rory McIlroy.

McIlroy picked up two shots on the front nine and after dropping a shot at the 11th, the Ulsterman eagled the 12th before picking up two shots in final three holes to move into contention.

The four-time major winner struck a wedge to two feet on the par-four 18th to end the day on a high and is within two of his Ryder Cup team-mate as both seek a first victory of 2018.

McIlroy said: "I started the day just outside the top-10 and wanted to at least give myself a chance going into tomorrow, so it was a great day out there. I can't really ask for much more."

Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy

PRICE BOOST: McIlroy or Fowler to win. Was 5/2, NOW 3/1!

Justin Rose, who finished fifth at last week's Valspar Championship, starts the final day three shots behind close friend Stenson after a round of 67 that included six birdies and a bogey.

Stenson had a frustrating day with four birdies and three bogeys in a one under par round of 71.

Tiger Woods will start the final round five shots off the lead and after finishing second last week, will be confident of challenging the golfers ahead of him as he looks to win the tournament for the ninth time.

"I played well, scored well, it was a good day all around," said Woods. "Can't complain about anything I did today. I really hit the ball solidly, I controlled it, and I hit a lot of beautiful putts, some went in, some didn't.

"I've got a chance."

Rickie Fowler meanwhile joined the lead with a run of birdies midway through the back-nine, but a bogey at the 17th hole followed by a double at the closing 18th saw him fall four back.


Sky Bet's Arnold Palmer Invitational odds


Day two

Henrik Stenson overcame a slow start to remain at the top of the leaderboard as Tiger Woods struggled on day two of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Stenson added a second round of 69 to his opening 64 at Bay Hill to set the clubhouse target on 11 under par, a target matched minutes later by American Bryson DeChambeau following a 66.

Stenson is Sky Bet's 13/8 favourite to win the tournament. That's ahead of DeChambeau at 6/1.

Rory McIlroy, who has missed the cut in two of his last four starts on the PGA Tour, sat six shots off the pace after a second round of 70 which featured five birdies and three bogeys.

Eight-time winner Woods was a shot further back after two birdies in his last seven holes saw the 14-time major champion finish where he began the day, on four under, following a hard-fought level-par 72.

Stenson had covered the back nine in 31 on Thursday, but after starting from the 10th on Friday, the former Open champion could only manage nine straight pars to reach the turn in 36.

The par streak was extended to 13 holes before Stenson found his range on the greens to birdie the fifth, sixth and seventh to maintain his bid for a first win of the season.

Asked what made the difference between missing the cut in last week's Valspar Championship and his performance so far, the world number 15 told PGA Tour Live: "Putting more than anything, but a combination of putting and my shots.

"I've been hitting a few really close this week and setting up some good opportunities from three or four feet. Today wasn't as good as yesterday, obviously, but the important part for me was 16, 17, 18. I scrambled for par all those three holes after hitting some not-so-good golf shots.

"I kept patient and then I got on a strong run and made three (birdies) in a row coming home. Three under around this golf course is never bad."

McIlroy's putting was noticeably better than in recent weeks and the four-time major winner told Sky Sports: "That's been a huge improvement over the first two days.

"I sort of messed around on the putting green a little bit, trying to go back to some feels I've had before and putted really well. Hopefully that continues.

"Over the weekend last year I was hitting driver pretty much everywhere, leaving myself wedges in. If I drive it like that again over the weekend I feel like I'll have a good chance."

McIlroy shot weekend rounds of 65 and 69 last year to finish in a tie for fourth, two behind winner Marc Leishman.

Woods bogeyed the first after hooking his tee shot into the trees and had a superb short game to thank for saving par on the second and third, before a wild tee shot on the fourth fortunately hit the out-of-bounds fence and stayed in play.

The 14-time major winner three-putted the ninth for a second bogey of the day but birdied the 12th and 16th and narrowly missed from 15 feet for another on the last as he seeks a first victory since 2013.

Day one

Tiger Woods continued his impressive return to form with a first-round 68 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, but found himself four shots off the pace after a brilliant late round by Henrik Stenson.

After finishing second to Paul Casey last week, Woods continued where he left off as he started his bid for a record ninth win at Bay Hill.

Woods had just one double bogey spoil his round, which included a monstrous 70-foot birdie putt on the seventh, as he justified all the pre-tournament money that had come in for him to win.

He was cut to 7/2 to win the event after he'd finished his round until Stenson took over at the head of the market.

"I've gotten the feel of playing tournament rounds," the 14-time major winner told Sky Sports.

"That just took time and patience and I'm scoring now - I know where to miss it, I don't really have to think that much and I'm going out there and doing it.

"Today all four par fives were reachable if you drove the ball in play. I tugged it a little bit left on 12 but the other par fives I handled well, all irons into the greens."

Walker was the only man early on to better Woods’ round in Orlando as he holed his second shot to the 18th for a closing eagle to sign for a 67.

Patrick Reed, who missed out on a play-off last week by bogeying the 72nd hole, matched Woods with a four-under 68 while Justin Rose recovered from four-over after six to finish with a 69.

Stenson blew the early leaders away though as he fired nine birdies and a solitary bogey in his 64, with seven of the birdies coming in an eight-hole stretch from the ninth.

"I hit some beautiful shots out there today and I was rolling it really good too," Stenson told Sky Sports. "Last week I was struggling with the putting but put a lot of effort in before this week and managed to shape things up."

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