A frustrated Rory McIlroy returns home still seeking to rid ‘silly’ mistakes from his game ahead of hosting Thursday’s starting Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at the K. Club.

McIlroy again this season promised much after a sizzling second day showing at TPC Sawgrass only to end in a supporting role with a closing 71 for a seven under par and a share of 12th place at Ponte Vedre in Florida.

In the nine PGA Tour counting stroke-play events McIlroy played this season there has been rounds of brilliance but far too many mediocre 18-hole displays.

McIlroy produced a no-frills opening 72 at Sawgrass but then turned on the fireworks with a score of 64, and that should have been a new course record had he not messed-up his last hole.

Rory McIlroy left frustrated again by ‘silly’ Sawgrass mistakes,

But then on day three, the four-time Major winner again produced a number of those ‘silly’ mistakes he spoke of ahead of the $US 10.5m event in signing for a three-over par 75.

It continues a trend for McIlroy this year who is still yet to break 70 over four days of a tournament.

Indeed, a week ago in the defence of his Wells Fargo Championship McIlroy’s highlighted the frustration he continues to endure in 2016 shooting 73, 69, 73 and 66.

And it’s been much the same at Ponte Vedre with a similar roller-coaster showing.

McIlroy got his last round off to a positive start with a birdie at the second before also birding the second of the outward par fives at the ninth.

He then birdied the third of four par fives at the 11^th however any thoughts of a fifth top-10 in those nine events this year turned pear-shaped when McIlroy found the water left of the par three 13^th to take bogey.

McIlroy dropped a further shot after finding the trees down the left side of the 15^th before heading to the scorer’s hut with shoulders again shrugged.

Also back home this week is Shane Lowry and leaving the States lamenting a horror third round 78 that included starting Saturday bogey, bogey, double bogey and bogey.

A day earlier, Lowry was right on the tail of Aussie Jason Day at 11-under par but ended his second Sawgrass campaign restoring some pride on the back of three birdies in his opening four holes ahead of signing off for 71 for a six under tally.

Finishing the best of the four Irish was Graeme McDowell, who played alongside Lowry over the last day, grabbed a last round 69 for an eight under par tally.

In contrast to McIlroy and Lowry, McDowell got better with each round shooting scores of 72, 70 and a pair of closing 69s that included birdies at 10, 11 and the 16^th where he chipped his 30-yard chip shot to a foot for a birdie ‘4’.

But McDowell’s highlight was landing his tee shot to just one yard at the par 17^th, a shot that drew one of the biggest cheers and also earned him a well-done hug from Lowry.

Then for good measure McDowell made it three birdies to end his tournament in draining an eight footer from behind the flag.

And already back on home soil is Padraig Harrington who missed the Players cut but heads to the K. Club knowing how to win an Irish Open in finding the shortest round around Adare Manor in 2007.