Rory McIlroy was naturally downbeat ending a six-week competition absence in finishing a distant share of seventh place in the first big golfing showdown of the New Year – the WGC – Mexico Championship.
McIlroy signed for a level par 71 to be tied with Phil Mickelson (71) and Brandt Snedeker (65)
McIlroy went into the final round with Dustin Johnson and with both trailing a shot behind Justin Thomas.
Rory McIlroy admits he failed to get to grips with the changing Mexican course conditions. (Photo – European Tour)
The four-time Major winning McIlroy had given himself the opening final round nine holes to make-up ground on the leaders but it never happened for the current World No. 3.
He admitted post the third day at Mickelson’s misadventure a day earlier has been off-putting.
But then it was not the last day start McIlroy wanted as he was in a green side bunker left off the tee at the par three, third hole and took three shots to get up-and-down from 40-feet for bogey.
McIlroy birdied sixth but gave the shot back when he also three-putted the next par three at the eight, and some the front of the green.
However, McIlroy’s putting continued to the let him down with a series of two-putt pars over the next few holes, including missing a 12-footer at 13 before only the second birdie of his day in rolling-in finally draining an eight-footer at the 14th to 10-under in the $USUS 9.75m event.
McIlroy ended with in a round of 71 and in what was his first tournament in some six weeks since being diagnosed with a stress fracture of a rib.
“My scores over the weekend were the rounds I thought I would produce the first two days and not the last two days,” said McIlroy.
“So, I was hoping to improve as the week went on and that is obviously the plan every week I compete.
“I hit the ball pretty well every day but as the course changed a little bit as the week went on, I just didn’t adjust to it.”
McIlroy has this week off before returning to competition in what will be a very emotional encounter in the golf world for the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando.
