Monday 19 February 2018 10:18, UK
Rory McIlroy gave himself encouragement ahead of next week's Honda Classic as he closed out the Genesis Open with his best round of the week.
A third-day 73 had taken McIlroy out of contention as he slipped 10 shots behind 54-hole leader Bubba Watson, but he produced a positive finish with a solid three-under 68 at Riviera Country Club.
McIlroy began on the 10th and picked up an early birdie at 11 before giving the shot back at the 13th following a wayward tee-shot and a bunkered approach, but he steadied himself with a run of five pars before making his second eagle of the week at the first.
The world No 10 hit a delightful second shot to three feet at the par-five opening hole and made no mistake with the putt, and he did well to save par from 20 feet at the next.
McIlroy took another step backwards at the fifth when he blocked his approach from the middle of the fairway and needed three more to get down, but he avoided back-to-back bogeys with a confident 10-foot par putt at the next.
He holed from similar range for birdie at the eighth and converted a sublime wedge to three feet at the ninth to vault into the top 20 on three under, but he felt his form over the week was not reflected in his score.
McIlroy will now head to PGA National, close to his Florida home, for his third straight tournament in an event he won in 2012 and finished runner-up two years later after losing out to Russell Henley in a play-off.
Watch the video above to see McIlroy reflect on his week at Riviera, and his optimism that he is close to being able to win his first title for 16 months at the Honda Classic.
