Well it was drama again last night on the PGA Tour, with another late finish and a four man play-off in the Honda Classic at the PGA National.
The day started with McIlroy leading the way with a two-shot lead over Russell Henley, and a quiet start didn’t see much change at the top of the leaderboard over the opening 6 holes.
Both were dropping the odd shot and making the odd birdie, but after the turn McIlroy began to lose his way and found himself coming right back to the pack.
Up ahead Scotland’s Russell Knox was scraping it around in a bid to win his first PGA Title as was American Ryan Palmer, but the bear trap was living up to its name, and lots of players were falling fail to the water on the tough 15th and 17th holes.
With Knox and Palmer getting in the clubhouse at 8 under par, McIlroy and Henley were standing on the par 5 18th seven and eight under par respectively.
Two good drives saw them both in the fairway, but Henley’s second went left of the green leaving him with a tough up and down for birdie.
McIlroy had 245 yards to the pin that was tucked way over to the right hand side of the green about 15 feet from the waters edge, and with his 3 wood in hand he hit the best shot of his life to within 15 feet, meaning that he would have that to the win the tournament after the torrid last few holes he had endured.
Henley fluffed his chip to within 20 feet of the hole and could only manage a two-putt leaving tied with Know and Palmer, leaving the door open and the scene set for McIlroy. Unfortunately the left to right putt dribbled past the right edge and back to the 18th tee the four men went.
Its was only Knox that missed the fairway in the first play-off hole as the other three were in perfect position off the tee, leaving him with a lay-up shot to around 115 yards.
Palmer’s second found the left rough, Henley hit a great 3-wood to the heart of the green and McIlroy went long into the back bunker with his 5-wood, and Knox was 20 feet away in three shots, Henley was looking favourite.
Palmer chipped down and never threatened the hole a left himself with a tough downhill putt, Knox missed his birdie putt and McIlroy could keep his bunker shot on the green, leaving Henley with a simple two-putt for victory.
It really was a thrilling last couple of hours of golf and to go along with the WGC Matchplay drama it really has been a great start to the season, and even more exciting is that the Masters is only a few weeks a way now!
