Arnold Palmer Invitational
Orlando, Florida
Playing out of the penultimate twosome, World No. 13 Rory McIlroy erased a two-shot deficit with a week-tying-low, bogey-free, 8-under-par 33-31=64 in Sunday’s final round at Bay Hill Club & Lodge to post 18-under 270, up two spots on the day and good for a three-shot victory over runner-up Bryson DeChambeau, who shot 68 out of the final pairing.
The 28-year-old, a pre-tourney 16/1 outright, bags his 14th PGA TOUR title in 136 events (135 pro), seventh in come-from-behind fashion. It’s his first win since the 2016 TOUR Championship 19 starts and 18 months ago, which also won him the FedExCup.
“What a day, it looked like it was going to be a shootout out there, I just tried to stay patient. Even-par thru five holes and four behind and then hit into the bunker on hole 6. After that, I basically played a perfect round of golf,” McIlroy said afterwards.
McIlroy culminated his final-round masterpiece with a walk-off, birdie-3 from 24’11”. In total, he circled eight of his final 13 holes and five of his last six.
“I’m pretty proud of myself, I’ve hung in there with injuries and taking time off at the end of last year. All that hard work has finally paid off, just a couple of little tweaks here-and-there, and it’s nice to be in this position again,” also McIlroy.
FUN FACT: At the 2016 TOUR Championship, McIlroy came from two back with a Sunday 64, that one a 6-under version, and won in a three-man, four-hole playoff (Ryan Moore, Kevin Chappell), his only win to date in extra time. Moore and Chappell both finished T7 this week. #CourseCorrelation
NOSTALGIA: McIlroy’s win at East Lake fell on Sunday, September 25th, 2016, the day that Arnold Palmer passed away (at age 87).
OUT OF NOWHERE: Prior to this week, McIlroy had not been in the top 10 after ANY round on TOUR since finishing T5 at the WGC-Bridgestone last August. He entered off a MC at the Valspar by two (74-73) and T59 at the Honda (72-72-73-72), a cumulative 14-over-par in those six rounds (all over-par rounds).
#High5s: Go to putting guru Brad Faxon, who worked with McIlroy after the Valspar down at the Bear’s Club in Jupiter, Florida. Also, to his new 34.5-inch flat stick – employed this week – a TaylorMade TP Copper Soto, and a new shaft in his M3 driver. #Tweaks
Final Leaderboard:
1- Rory McIlroy 69-70-67-64= 270 (-18)
2- Bryson DeChambeau 67-66-72-68= 273 (-15)
3- Justin Rose 69-71-67-67= 274 (-14)
4- Henrik Stenson 64-69-71-71= 275 (-13)
T5- Tiger Woods 68-72-69-69= 278 (-10)
T5- Ryan Moore 71-67-69-71= 278 (-10)
McIlroy’s Position by Round:
R1: T13
R2: T11
R3: 3
Leader/co-leaders by Round:
R1: Henrik Stenson (finished 4th): Drops to 1-for-6 as 18-hole leader/co-leader
R2: Henrik Stenson (4th): Drops to 1-for-5 as 36-hole leader/co-leader
R2: Bryson DeChambeau (2nd): Drop to 0-for-3
R3: Henrik Stenson (4th): Drops to 3-for-6 as 54-hole leader/co-leader
Draw:
A total of 77 players (75 pros, 2 amateurs) from a field of 118 pros and 2 amateurs made the 36-hole cut of 1-over 145:
36 (of 60) EARLY/late
41 (of 59) LATE/early; 1 WD
12 players finished in the top 10:
EARLY/late (6):
Justin Rose (3rd); Tiger Woods (T5); Ryan Moore (T5); Sean O’Hair (T7); Patrick Rodgers (T7); Patrick Reed (T7)
LATE/early (6):
Rory McIlroy (Won); Bryson DeChambeau (2nd); Henrik Stenson (4th); Kevin Chappell (T7); Marc Leishman (T7); Luke List (T7)
10
10 (of 19) tourneys this season with a traditional draw:
WINNERS:
EARLY/late: 4
LATE/early: 6 (McIlroy)
14
McIlroy’s Career:
136: starts
117: cuts made (86.0%)
86: top 25s (63.2%)
61: top 10s (44.8%)
24: top 3s (17.6%)
14: wins (10.2%)
Wins by Season:
2018: 1
2017: 0
2016: 2
2015: 2
2014: 3
2013: 0
2012: 4
2011: 1
2010: 1 (rookie season)
2009: 0 (special temporary member)
BREAKDOWN:
Stroke Play: 13
Match Play: 1 (2015)
Majors: 4
FedExCup Playoffs: 4
WGC: 2
Come from Behind: 7 (largest deficit: 6 shots; 2016 Deutsche Bank)
Largest Margin of Victory: 8 shots (x2)
2012 PGA
2011 U.S. Open
McIlroy improves to 3-for-5 on the season with two top 25s (T20, Genesis).
Season Form: 1-MC-59-20-MC
This was his fourth API (fourth consecutive), third top 25 and second top 10 after T4 last year (74-71-65-69). McIlroy’s scoring average on the par-72 layout in 16 rounds is 69.25 (67.00 in R4), 13 of those in the red (seven consecutive).
API Form: 1-4-27-11
28
At 28 years of age, McIlroy ends the 40-something winner’s streak at two (Casey, Valspar; Mickelson, WGC-Mexico).
6
Through 19 events this season:
6 winners were in their 20s (McIlroy: age 28)
9 were in their 30s
4 were in their 40s
2
Only two winners this season had a MC in their prior start:
McIlroy (API)
Ryan Armour (Sanderson Farms)
FIRSTs
This was McIlroy’s first win:
Since getting married: in April, 2017
As a TaylorMade staffer: since May, 2017
With his new caddie: since August, 2017
Field Scoring Average:
This was the 53rd playing of the API and 40th consecutive at Bay Hill (since 1979).
Yardage: 7,419
Par: 72 (36-36)
Cumulative scoring averages: R1: 72.20; R2: 72.06; R3: 71.26; R4: 72.46
Total: 72.02
McIlroy’s rounds: 69-70-67-64 for 17.973 SG: Total
How McIlroy Won on Sunday:
After opening in 69-70-67, he began in solo 3rd, two back of leader Stenson.
The Jupiter resident hit 10 (of 14) fairways and 13 greens in regulation, gaining 2.67 strokes approaching-the-green and 6.06 tee-to-green.
He opened with five pars, including two missed scoring tries from inside of 12 feet, but circled back-to-backs at holes 6 and 7 from 10’7” and 12’4”, respectively.
McIlroy knocked in another 10-footer at 9 to reach 13-under total, now tied for the lead with Stenson, who one group behind, had just dropped his first shot with bogey-5 at 8.
Meanwhile, Woods, four groups ahead, had birdied 10, 12 and 13 to climb to within one.
McIlroy circled 13 with a 16-footer from the fringe, while DeChambeau, in the final pairing one group behind, circled 12 and 13, and Stenson also birdied 13 to reach 14-under total, both tied with McIlroy.
McIlroy rammed in another birdie at 14 from 21 feet, now the sole leader on 15-under, while playing competitor Rose dropped a 12-foot birdie for 13-under.
Not nearly done, McIlroy canned yet another birdie at 15, this one a pitch-in from 41’9” away, and then two-putted the par-5 16th for four straight circles, now 17-under.
Rose also two-putted the 16th for birdie, missing eagle from 10’3”, but parred in for a back-nine 33 and bogey-free 67, eventually four short.
Woods squared 16 and 17 for an inward 35 and 69, eventually eight adrift, while Stenson 3-jacked the 16th from 30’2” (for par) and bogeyed 18 for an inward 36 and 71, eventually five back.
That left DeChambeau, who eagled the 16th from 15’8” to reach 16-under, barely missed birdie at 17, while McIlroy ahead, walked off with birdie-3 to post 18-under for a back-nine 31 and 64.
DeChambeau, now needing a hole-out eagle to force extra time, walked off with bogey-5 after missing the fairway and missing a par-saver from 3’8”. He came home in 33 for 68.
Round 4 Stats Comparison (ranking of 77 players):
SG: Off-the-Tee:
McIlroy: 1.3 (6th)
DeChambeau: 0.6 (25th)
Rose: 1.1 (10th)
SG: Approach-the-Green:
McIlroy: 2.7 (7th)
DeChambeau: 1.5 (16th)
Rose: 1.1 (19th)
Proximity:
McIlroy: 23’8” (1st)
DeChambeau: 36’3” (22nd)
Rose: 37’4” (T25)
SG: Around-the-Green:
McIlroy: 2.1 (4th)
DeChambeau: 2.4 (2nd)
Rose: 0.1 (39th)
SG: Putting:
McIlroy: 2.4 (12th)
DeChambeau: 0.0 (39th)
Rose: 3.2 (6th)
SG: Total:
McIlroy: 8.5 (1st)
DeChambeau: 4.5 (T6)
Rose: 5.5 (T2)
Putts:
McIlroy: 24 (T2)
DeChambeau: 28 (T16)
Rose: 24 (T2)
Bryson DeChambeau: Playing out of the final twosome, the second-round co-leader and World No. 95 tossed up a 4-under-par 35-33=68 for a 72-hole total of 15-under 273, good for a season-best solo 2nd on 15-under 273 (67-66-72-68).
The 24-year-old was chasing his second TOUR title in 56 events (51 pro), joining his maiden win at the 2017 John Deere 16 starts ago. He settles for a second runner-up finish, joining a T2 at the 2017 Puerto Rico Open, also as a 36-hole co-leader.
The SMU product is now 2-for-2 at the API, bettering a T27 in 2016 as an amateur. He improves to 8-for-10 on the season with five top 25s and three top 10s (T5, WMPO; T7, Shriners). The Dallas resident arrived off a mid-tourney WD at the Valspar (sore back).
For the week, he recorded two eagles and 21 birdies against 10 bogeys and ranked 1st in SG: Tee-to-Green (11.859), highlighted by 3rd in SG: Off-the-Tee (3.983), and 2nd in SG: Approach-the-Green (7.786).
Season Form: 2-WD-41-55-5-MC
FEC Rank: 19th (UP 30)
OWGR: 61st (UP 34); career high
McIlroy’s Weekly Stats (ranking of 77 players):
Eagles: 1 (T7)
Birdies: 22 (T2)
Bogeys: 4 (1st)
Double Bogeys: 1 (T20)
Par-3 Scoring: 2.88 (T3)
Par-4 Scoring: 3.83 (T2)
Par-5 Scoring: 4.44 (T15)
Driving Distance (all drives): 291 yards (7th)
Driving Accuracy: 36/56 (T48) at 64.29%
Greens in Regulation: 46/72 (T45) at 63.89%
Proximity to Hole: 30’1” (1st)
Putts per GIR: 1.609 (2nd)
Total Putts: 100 (1st); career best
Putts by Round: 24-27-25-24
Scrambling: 21/26 (1st) at 80.77%
All Around: (3rd)
SG: Off-the-Tee: 1.41 (31st)
SG: Approach-the-Green: 4.57 (13th)
SG: Around-the-Green: 1.97 (20th)
SG: Putting: 10.03 (1st)
SG: Tee-to-Green: 7.95 (7th)
Low Rounds:
R1: 64: Henrik Stenson
R2: 66: Bryson DeChambeau, Charley Hoffman
R3: 66: John Huh, Austin Cook
R4: 64: Rory McIlroy
Bogey-free Rounds:
R1: Talor Gooch (65); Rickie Fowler (67); Brian Harman (68); Billy Horschel (68)
R2: Charley Hoffman (66); Luke List (67); Henrik Stenson (69); J.B. Holmes (71)
R3: Sam Horsfield (68); Brian Stuard (68); Graeme McDowell (69)
R4: Rory McIlroy (64); Justin Rose (67); Brian Gay (69)
Updated Top 10 in FEC standings (points):
McIlroy collects 500 FEC points for the victory and vaults 154 places to 24th in the FEC standings. Justin Thomas (idle) remains No. 1 in the standings for a fourth event in a row and a fourth week overall this season:
1. Justin Thomas (1,573)
2. Patton Kizzire (1,314)
3. Phil Mickelson (1,149)
4. Dustin Johnson (1,044)
5. Jon Rahm (982)
6. Justin Rose (940); UP nine
7. Brendan Steele (866); DOWN one
8. Jason Day (852); UP two
9. Tony Finau (850); DOWN two
10. Paul Casey (842); DOWN two
Note: Pat Perez (idle) dropped from 9th to 11th with 837 points.
Updated Top 10 in OWGR:
With a Strength of Field rating of 443 (down from 518 last year), McIlroy banks 58.00 world-ranking points and climbs six spots to 7th in OWGR.
3. Jon Rahm
5. Justin Rose
7. Rory McIlroy; UP six
8. Rickie Fowler; DOWN one
9. Brooks Koepka; DOWN one
10: Sergio Garcia; DOWN one
Note: Jason Day (T22), dropped from 10th to 11th
Field Breakdown & Top-10 Finishes:
OWGR field average: 203rd
OWGR average for top-10 finishers: 65th
13 of the Top 25 in OWGR were in the field
5 finished in the top 10
No. 5 Justin Rose (3rd); top-ranked
No. 13 Rory McIlroy (Won)
No. 15 Henrik Stenson (4th)
No. 16 Marc Leishman (T7); defender
No. 23 Patrick Reed (T7)
24 of the Top 50 OWGR
6 finished in the top 10
No. 37 Kevin Chappell (T7)
Other Top 10s:
No. 69 Luke List (T7)
No. 73 Ryan Moore (T5)
No. 95 Bryson DeChambeau (2nd)
No. 124 Sean O’Hair (T7)
No. 149 Tiger Woods (T5); pre-tourney 11/2 fave outright
No. 158 Patrick Rodgers (T7)
Other Notables:
No. 6 Hideki Matsuyama (T49)
No. 7 Rickie Fowler (T14)
No. 10 Jason Day (T22)
No. 11 Tommy Fleetwood (T26)
No. 14 Tyrrell Hatton (T69)
No. 17 Alex Noren (T36)
No. 22 Brian Harman (T54)
No. 25 Francesco Molinari (T26)
Career-Best Finishes:
Sam Horsfield (T14); non-member; sponsor invite
Collin Morikawa (T64); amateur; sponsor
Doc Redman (71st); amateur; sponsor
Season Leaders in Top-10 Finishes:
6: Brian Harman
4: Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, Patton Kizzire, Chesson Hadley, Justin Rose, Marc Leishman
Consecutive Top 10s on TOUR:
4: Phil Mickelson (P1-T6-T2-T5)
3: Justin Thomas (P2-P1-T9)
2: Justin Rose (3-T5)
2: Tiger Woods (T5-T2)
2: Patrick Reed (T7-T2)
2: Sergio Garcia (4-T7)
Consecutive Top-10 streaks ended at:
2: Bubba Watson (T66-T9-1)
2: Jason Day (T22-T2-P1)
Consecutive Top-25 streaks on TOUR:
11: Jason Day (T22-T2-P1-T11-T11-T17-4-T25-T6-T9-T24)
9: Justin Thomas (P2-P1-T9-T17-T14-T22-P1-T17-2)
6: Dustin Johnson (T7-T16-T2-1-T2-T17)
3: Tiger Woods (T5-T2-12)
3: Luke List (T7-T16-P2)
3: Adam Hadwin (T12-T9-T6)
3: Xander Schauffele (T18-T9-T17)
Consecutive Top-25 streaks ENDED at:
5: Alex Noren (T36-T14-3-T16-T21-P2)
Season Leaders in Top-25 finishes:
7: Luke List, Brian Harman, Brandon Harkins
6: Kyle Stanley, Charles Howell III, Kevin Chappell, Paul Casey, Zach Johnson, Jason Kokrak, Phil Mickelson, Patton Kizzire, Daniel Berger, Cameron Smith, Austin Cook, Brian Gay
TOUR Rookies &/or First-Timers:
TOUR Rookies: 6
Top-10 finishes: 0
Talor Gooch: Making his tournament debut on a sponsor invite, the 26-year-old took top-rookie-honors with T26 on 4-under 284 (65-70-73-76). It’s the fourth time this season in 13 starts that he’s been low rookie.
The Oklahoma State alum ranked 5th in SG: Approach (6.82) but 73rd (of 77) in SG: Putting (-4.57).
Season Form: 26-MC-MC-20-MC-51-67-18-MC
FEC Rank: 92nd (UP five)
OWGR: 211th (UP six)
First-Timers: 19
Top-10 finishes: 0
Sam Horsfield: In the field on a sponsor invite, the 21-year-old – and ex Florida Gator for 2 years – was top debutant with T14 on 6-under 282 (70-73-68-71). This was his ninth career TOUR start, third cash and first top 25 (T48, 2017 RBC Canadian Open).
The Englishman, who lists Lake Nona as his club affiliation, slots 30th in the Race to Dubai rankings and arrived off a career-best solo 2nd (in 13 events) at the Tshwane Open two weeks ago.
Worldwide Form: 14-2-MC-MC-4-MC-MC
FEC Rank: earns 50 non-member points
OWGR: 304th (UP 81); career high
Picking a Winner:
13
13 (of 19) winners had a top-25 finish the start prior (68.4%):
McIlroy? No: MC (Valspar)
7
7 (of 19) winners had a top-10 finish the start prior (36.8%)
McIlroy? No: MC (Valspar)
49/1
Average winner’s pre-tourney odds outright (rounded). Last six:
McIlroy: 16/1 (API)
Casey: 20/1 (Valspar)
Mickelson: 25/1 (WGC-Mexico)
Thomas: 10/1 (Honda)
Watson: 50/1 (Genesis)
Potter, Jr.: 300/1 (AT&T Pro-Am)
7.1
In the last 112 events on TOUR, the pre-tourney fave/co-fave has won 8 times for a conversion percentage of 7.1%.
This Season:
19 tournaments
2 pre-tourney fave/co-faves won:
Jon Rahm: 8/1 (CareerBuilder)
Justin Thomas: 15/2 (CJ CUP)
This week’s favorite(s):
Tiger Woods (11/2): Playing out of the sixth-to-last twosome, the World No. 149 and eight-time past champion stalled out to a 3-under-par 34-35=69 for a two-way T5 on 10-under 278 (68-72-69-69), up five places on the day but eight adrift.
The Stanford product found nine (of 14) fairways and 11 greens in regulation, losing 1.273 strokes off-the-tee but gaining 2.303 approaching-the-green.
He was 5-under thru 15 holes, silencing bogey-5 at hole 9 with six birdies at 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 13, all from inside of 14 feet.
Woods’ Sunday charge fizzled however, with bogey-6 at 15 (tee ball OB) and bogey-4 at 17 (failed sand save). He did manage to save par at 18 from 12’0”.
This was the 42-year-old’s 18th API, first since bagging his 77th (of 79) TOUR wins on last visit in 2013 (as defending champ). It’s his 15th top-25 finish, ninth straight, and 10th top 10, three straight. For the week, he tallied 20 birdies versus eight bogeys and one double and ranked 2nd in SG: Around-the-Green (4.36) and 8th in SG: Putting (5.52), but 71st (of 77) in SG: Off-the-Tee (-3.53).
The Jupiter resident improves to 4-for-5 on the season with four top 25s, three consecutive, and two top 10s, arriving off a T2 at last week’s Valspar.
Season Form: 5-2-12-MC-23
API Form: 5-1-1-24-1-1-22
FEC Rank: 35th (UP eight)
OWGR: 105th (UP 44)
Last Five Winners on TOUR (finishes):
Paul Casey (idle)
Phil Mickelson (idle)
Justin Thomas (idle)
Bubba Watson (T66)
Ted Potter, Jr. (MC); fourth straight MC
