Rory McIlroy was not hanging about to congratulate new PGA Champion, Jason Dufner after ending his defence in a share of eighth place at Oak Hill.

McIlroy posted a final round 70 for a three under par tally and seven shots behind Dufner who made amends for his 2010 PGA Championship anguish when he lost out to Keegan Bradley for the title in Atlanta.

The double Major winning McIlroy was headed straight to nearby Rochester Airport after pocketing a prize cheque for $US 206,250.

McIlroy went into the last round at three under par but could look back to the fifth hole where he posted a triple bogey when his 168-yard approach shot rolled off the green to come to rest on rocks inside a hazard.

The high water mark of McIlroy’s PGA defence challenge and taking a penalty drop at the 5th hole. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)

He took a penalty drop but up the fairway but then flew the green with his fourth from where he took three to get down.

“Had that shot at five been a few feet right or a few feet left it would have been fine so it was very disappointing but I came back okay,” he said.

“On the way in I played my best golf of the week today, hit some very good drives and very good iron shots but didn’t quite putt as well as I did the first two days but really really happy with my game.”

McIlroy’s effort is easily his best finish in the four Majors this year after being T25th in the Masters, T41st in the US Open and missing the cut in last month’s British Open.

“It’s been very big and I saw a lot of great signs out there and hopefully I can bring that through to the next few weeks and have a strong finish to the season,” he said.