After missing the short grass again off the tee, McIlroy’s ball settled down in the pine straw to the right of the fairway. With water all down the left side, and plenty of trees in his way, it looked like McIlroy was destined for a bogey — or worse.

Trailing by seven strokes heading into the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, McIlroy regretted a club switch and sent for his older set.