Updated March 6th, 2023 at 06:17 IST

"I still wish I could have had a couple of shots back" - Rory McIlroy after missing 10-foot birdie putt on the final hole

Kurt Kitayama let an All-Star cast of contenders back into the tournament with a triple bogey, only to beat them all with a clutch birdie and the best lag putt of his life to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Sunday.

Image: AP | Image:self
Advertisement

Kurt Kitayama let an All-Star cast of contenders back into the tournament with a triple bogey, only to beat them all with a clutch birdie and the best lag putt of his life to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Sunday.

Kitayama recorded a par round of 72 to stay at nine under and win by a stroke over Rory McIlroy and Harris English. McIlroy roared into the mix with four birdies in a five-hole stretch around the turn, only to miss a 10-foot birdie putt on the final hole for the lead; he closed with a 70.

"I mean, yeah, look, I still wish I could have had a couple of shots back today. But I guess everyone would say the same thing. It's one of those days and one of those courses where you're going to rue missed opportunities and a couple of missed putts here and there. But, yeah, look, again, I need to take the positives from it, which there is a lot of, we've got a massive event next week, and try to bring that momentum into Sawgrass."

"It's getting better. It's getting better. I feel like I figured out the driver a little bit more this week. Yeah, it's getting there. I think still a couple little things to tidy up and try to get more comfortable with. But, yeah, I mean with Players, Match Play, and then the Masters, so two tournaments between now and then and plenty of time to feel a bit more comfortable with where everything is.

Advertisement

Published March 6th, 2023 at 06:17 IST