There’s a reason there are leaderboards dotted around the golf course and Rory McIlroy will rue not having a passing glance when teeing his ball on the 14th.
A duff-hook 8-iron cost McIlroy a bogey on the par-3 as he dropped from the lead into a share, although he was bizarrely unaware at the time.
In the end McIlroy carded a two-under 70 to finish one shy of Kurt Kitayama, but it might have been a different story had the four-time major winner checked the standings.
“Disappointment obviously. I feel like I give myself a great chance after the birdie on 13th. Then to play the final five holes and one over par, with this jam packed leaderboard it isn’t really gonna get it done. I think I’ll rue the tee shot on 14th especially as I didn’t know where I was in the tournament. admitted McIlroy.
“I birdied 13 and thought maybe I was one or two behind because Jordan was making a run but as I was walking up to the green on 14, I looked back and saw it was one ahead. If I had have done that I probably would have hit a different shot into 14 Instead of trying to hit a perfect golf shot over that bunker but anyways, it was a battle all day I felt like I hung in there really well. Just came up one short in the end but you know, Kurt played well and did really well to, you know, to hang on in that back nine.”
After struggling at the Genesis Invitational, the Holywood native will head to Sawgrass full of confidence has he hunts a second PLAYERS Championship gong.
“I feel like this week was much better than LA and Phoenix. So i am trending in the right direction. Definitely some positives to take the sawgrass next week and we still feel like there’s a ton of room for improvement. I will try to refine everything and have another crack at it next week.”
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