Tyrell Hatton overcame high winds and jittery nerves to capture his first PGA title and fifth worldwide.
Hatton kept it together down the stretch Sunday by playing bogey-free over the last seven holes for a 2-over 74 to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
He had a three-shot lead when he drove into the water on the par-4 11th into the wind. Hatton went well over the green with his third shot, chipped short of the putting surface and had to make a 6-footer for a double bogey.
But his challengers also faltered. Marc Leishman avoided major disaster and still closed with a 73 to end up one shot behind Hatton. Rory McIlroy began the day one shot back before carding a 76, his highest closing round in a PGA Tour-sanctioned event since a 76 in the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion.
McIlroy still tied for fifth, his eighth consecutive finish in the top 5 worldwide dating to September.
Third-place finisher Sungjae Im was in serious contention until he came up shockingly short and into the water on the 13th for a double bogey.
Hatton's 4-under total made him one of only four players who beat par for the week, the fewest at Bay Hill since 1980.
with files from (The Associated Press)