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It was the worst finish of his five starts this
year. The Northern Irishman has been a constant presence on
leaderboards but Sundays have so far been a let down.
McIlroy started the final round at Bay Hill a stroke off the
lead and when he curled in a sharply-breaking 25-foot putt for
birdie at the third hole it looked like he was on course for his
first win of the year.
But he would not get another birdie until the easy par-five
16th, by which time his chance had gone as Francesco Molinari
breezed to victory with a closing eight-under-par 64.
McIlroy, who shot a 72 to finish on eight-under par,
acknowledged it had not been a great finish to the tournament
but said his game was in good shape.
"My Sundays haven't been what I would have liked but I'm putting
myself in that position," he said.
"Good golf is good golf."
NBC analyst Paul Azinger said one aspect of McIlroy's game was
not quite sharp enough.
"Rory's just got to get anchored to something on and around the
greens that he can really rely on, because tee-to-green he is
brilliant," he said.
McIlroy has finished no better than fourth at the Masters, the
only major to elude the 29-year-old. This year's tournament
starts on April 11.
(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by
Peter Rutherford)
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