Sunday 11 February 2018 08:39, UK
Rory McIlroy didn’t have the tournament debut he was hoping for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, but he did go very close to signing his week off in style.
McIlroy missed the cut by two shots in his maiden appearance at the California event, where he was inches away from a moment of magic on his way to a third-round 72 at Pebble Beach Golf Links.
Aiming to bounce back from his three-over 74 on Friday, McIlroy posted a two-putt birdie at the second but failed to get up-and-down from a greenside bunker to save par at the next.
McIlroy nudged in from four feet to birdie the fourth, only to three-putt the next from 30 feet and find the Pacific Ocean off the par-five next tee on his way to a second successive bogey.
The Northern Irishman holed an eight-footer to save par at the seventh and pitched in from off the next green to avoid dropping a shot, but missed a 10-footer for par at the ninth to reach the turn in 38.
An 18-foot birdie from the edge of the 12th green was cancelled out by a miss from six feet at the next, with McIlroy picking up a shot at the 14th but failing to convert birdie chances over his next three holes.
The world No 8 then found the water off the par-five 18th tee and was forced to take a penalty drop, before almost holing out with his third shot as his approach rattled the flag to leave an eight-foot birdie.
Click on the video above to see McIlroy's memorable finish!
Watch the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am live on Sunday from 6pm on Sky Sports Golf and 7pm on Sky Sports Main Event.
