McIlroy battled his tee shots to the very end, and it was at the par-4 18th where his ability to escape shined. After his 3-wood tee shot traveled 298 yards into the right pine straw and trees, McIlroy punched a 5-iron through an opening, the approach finding the green seven feet from the hole. He then rolled in the birdie putt to close things out.

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.