Three strokes back heading into the final round, World No.1 Rory McIlroy let another chance to add more PGA Tour silverware to his collection slip through his fingers at the Charles Schwab Challenge yesterday with a final round 4-over-par 74.
Prior to the coronavirus lockdown, McIlroy had began his 2020 PGA Tour campaign with a T-3, T-5, fifth and then another share of fifth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, where he failed to finish under par in the final round.
A month earlier at the Genesis Invitational, McIlroy held a share of the lead heading into the final round before a Sunday 73 allowed Adam Scott to step in and win.
Those Sunday slips are becoming frustratingly common for McIlroy and his run of top-five finishes ended in Texas in what was perhaps one of the most surprising elements in the Tour’s return to competition, given how assured he had looked for the first three days.
“I just got into a rut and played a bad run of holes, and obviously that put me out of the tournament,” said McIlroy.
It started sluggishly with a bogey on the opening hole and he proceeded to pile on the bogeys, going out in 6-over 41.
Loose shot
“I got off to a really bad start,” he said. “I hit a loose second shot on the first hole up to the right and then sort of messed around and took bogey there, so not the ideal start.”
McIlroy recovered on the second nine, coming back in 2-under for an overall 74, but that was only good enough for a share of 32nd after opening the week with rounds of 68-63.
The result was McIlroy’s worst since he missed the cut last summer at The Open at Royal Portrush.
He has the chance to bounce back this week at the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head.
