Rory McIlroy’s Augusta aspirations were handed another huge jolt in posting a PGA Tour three double bogeys in shock 75 on day three of the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando.
The PGA Tour advised it is, in fact, the fourth time in 105 PGA Tour counting events, since the 2007 Open Championship at Carnoustie, McIlroy’s recorded a trio of double bogeys in one PGA Tour round.
It was also McIlroy’s second 75 in three days at Bay Hill and with the only bright light being a second round 67 for the current World No. 2 to one over par in total and well off the lead.
McIlroy’s first round of 75 was the fourth occasion on the PGA Tour he had posted two doubles in a round and now an new and unwanted Tour record, and with the Masters just 18 days away.
The other occasions McIlroy shot three doubles in a round was the 2011 Honda Classic (3rd round 77), 2013 Barclays (1st round 71) and the 2014 Memorial (2nd round 78).
And after managing to sort out his putting in letting slip victory in the recent Cadillac Championship, the biggest concern is his play tee-to-green.
This woman scorer looks as disappointed as Rory McIlroy was in shooting a second 75 in three days at the Arnold Palmer Invitational
McIlroy began the £4.5m event driving out-of-bounds at his very first hole, and while managing to sort out that aspect of his game on day two in shooting five under, it was more his approach play on day three.
In fact, McIlroy found the water on four occasions, at the 18th or the ninth hole of his round and then twice at his 12th and taking doubles on each occasion.
And with rain now falling steadily McIlroy posted a double at the par three seventh and the 16th hole of his round after finding a greenside bunker and then three-putting from 33 feet for a third double of his day.
With it raining heavily, McIlroy made a bee line straight for the locker room and with finacee Erica Stoll waiting for him outside.
McIlroy had skipped attending a get-together of players and guests the night before at Ian Poulter’s Lake Nona residence and now has a round to play before heading to Austin, Texas and the defence of Wednesday’s starting WGC – Dell Match-Play Championship.
In contrast, Scotland’s Martin Laird began to revel in the deteriorating conditions posting four birdied from his sixth to 15th holes in an eventual two under par 70 for a three under par tally.
He said: “Today was more like it as I drove the ball a lot better than compared to yesterday when I drove the ball terrible, but then with the rain we had out there for about the seven last holes, the course played a lot tougher.
“It was the best I have played all week today so it was really pretty solid, not great but not bad.
“Now looking at the leader board it is reasonably bunched so if I could go out there tomorrow and shoot a low one, like five or six under, then I could have a nice finish.”
And as Laird was out front of the locker room tournament host Arnold Palmer walked by him and looking very frail.
Laird is not into next week’s elite WGC in Austin but then he still has one further event, the March 31st starting Shell Houston Open and with victory guaranteeing the Scot the final spot into the following week’s Masters.
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