There was no Academy Award for Rory McIlroy after letting slip victory with what can only be described as a train wreck display over the final round in the 2014 Honda Classic title.

The double Major winner, who went into day four leading by two and had led from day one, ended regulation play in a four way tie for the lead on nine-under par after signing for a shock round of 74.

Russell Hendley emerges from a four man play-off to capture the 2014 Honda Classic. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)

“I was fortunate that I was in the playoff,” said McIlroy.

“I didn’t play well enough at all down the stretch to win this tournament.

“Seventy-four wasn’t good enough to get the job done. To go out with a two-shot lead, you have to play well enough to win the thing. If I had won today, I would have counted myself as lucky.

“I’ll pick myself up, get back it, try to get back at it at Doral and try to get the job done.”

Also in the play-off was Scotland’s Russell Knox and the American duo of Russell Hendley and Ryan Palmer.

And it was Hendley who emerged victorious with a birdie at the first extra hole.

McIlroy started struggling under the weight of bogeys at seven, nine and the 12th hole of the PGA National course at Palm Beach Gardens in Florida.

However McIlroy regrouped to save par at the 14th after having to take a ‘free’ drop from a cart path and then also save par from a back bunker at the par three 15th hole.

A Nike staff player wins the 2014 Honda Classic but it was not Rory McIlroy. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)

But then when it looked like McIlroy had seen off his rivals, including Scotland’s Russell Knox took a double bogey at 14, the young Ulsterman found the water guarding the green at the 16th and taking a double bogey to drop from 10-under par to eight under.

However when Russell Hendley bogeyed 16 he and McIlroy found themselves in a four-way tied for the lead on eight under par with Knox and American Ryan Palmer who was in the clubhouse with a last day 69.

McIlroy was in more trouble when he missed his par putt at 17 to slip back to seven under par.

Palmer provided his own drama bogeying his 16th and 18th holes.

He was then observed at the back of the final green biting his nails waiting to see what McIlroy and Knox did over the 72nd hole.

Knox played the hole poorly but was then seen pumping his right fist when he pared the last to join Palmer in the clubhouse tied on eight under par.

McIlroy played a genius golf shot down 18 leaving himself 245-yards and then landed his second shot at the par five 18th to around 15 feet from the pin but then saw his eagle putt slide right of the hole.

It meant a play-off involving McIlroy, Knox, Palmer and Hendley.