Rory McIlroy’s uneventful season continued with far too much Chinese sour than sweet after a horror four days at the WGC – HSBC Champions in Shanghai.
For just a second time this season McIlroy failed to break 70 over four days in the event won by American Xander Schauffele.
McIlroy posted round of 72, 77, 75 and 74 for a horror 10-over-par tally as the Northern Irishman struggled to get to grips with the tough Sheshan course conditions.
One eagle, 13 birdies but also 11 bogeys, three double-bogeys and two triple-bogeys certainly was not on McIlroy’s takeout menu.
Rory McIlroy 2018 WGC – HSBC Champions
Not since the defence of his Honda Classic title in March has McIlroy failed to break 70 over four days and with his eventual 10-over par tally for an eventual share of 54th seeing him finish two dozen shots behind Schauffele.
Schauffele showed he would have been a better Ryder Cup ‘wildcard’ pick than Phil Mickelson in denying countryman Tony Finau to win his first European Tour title and in the process overhaul McIlroy into fourth place on the Race to Dubai.
Schauffele and Finau ended regulation play locked together at 14 under after 72 holes and with Schauffele winning his first WGC title with a birdie at the first extra hole.
“It’s a lot to take in honestly and I didn’t have an incredible Asian Swing up until this point, so I think that flight home will be a little bit more special,” said Schauffele.
“Probably having my family out. It’s the first time we’ve been together in a pretty long time. That was pretty special and I’m happy to share this with them. Other key moments, it’s tricky. Everything we do is really repetitive, so it’s hard to really pick out a specific moment. There are a few out on the course which were clutch, but besides that, I can’t think of anything too significant.”
“I felt really good about every part of my game mentally, physically. So with a 68, obviously, it was just enough. Tony played well, as well, but it’s tricky to try and fend off when everyone is chasing you.”
Defending champion Justin Rose was right in it throughout the day but had to settle for a 72 after a bogey on the last to finish four shots out of the play-off at 10-under.
Thai Kiradech Aphibarnrat and American Andrew Putnam were then at eight under, a shot clear of another American in Keegan Bradley.
Tommy Fleetwood (72), Thorbjørn Olesen (73), Patrick Reed (75) and Patrick Cantlay (72) completed the top ten at five under.
And Belgian Thomas Pieters was celebrating in grabbing the first ever ace at the par-4 12th hole when he 6-iron shot from 197-yards took two bounces and rolled into the cup.
The Irish duo of Padraig Harrington and Shane Lowry will be flying the Irish colours at this week’s Turkish Airlines Open in Belek.
McIlroy has a week off ahead of next week’s penulimate European Tour season event in South Africa.
