Scotland's Martin Laird came through a rollercoaster final round to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational by a shot.
Second victory for US-based Scot despite closing 75
Scotland's Martin Laird came through a rollercoaster final round to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational by a shot from Steve Marino.
Starting the day at 11-under, Laird was able to shoot a three-over 75 and still post victory - his second on the PGA Tour - on a brutally tough day for scoring at the par 72 Bay Hill course in Florida.
Laird had set off in the final round with a two-shot lead but three bogeys to the turn saw him tied alongside Marino at eight-under with nine holes to play.
Marino birdied 10 to go a shot clear and when Laird double bogeyed the 11th after finding water the Arizona-based Scot's chance looked to have gone.
But Marino, seeking his first Tour victory, faltered down the stretch and Laird cashed in.
Three clear after walking off the 14th, Marino bogeyed 15 after finding sand, could only par the long 16th and then made a double bogey at 17 after his approach plugged in a bunker.
While the American dropped back to six-under, Laird regained the lead with birdies at 15 and 16 putting him two clear again.
Marino looked to have produced one last twist when he birdied 18 after a brilliant approach over water to eight feet.
That set the clubhouse total at seven-under and meant Laird, who had bravely made par with a fine up and down at 17, had to par the last to win.
The big-hitting Scotsman boomed his drive into the rough and from a difficult lie found the front edge of the green, but some 85 feet away.
He hit a great lag putt to four feet and then held his nerve to stroke home the winning putt.
"That was a hell of a day. That was a tough fight out there," said Laird.
"You know, the golf course is playing very, very difficult. To be honest I didn't feel like I had my swing really all day. Pretty much hit it everywhere until about the last four holes.
"You know, the two clubs that have been good for me all week, my driver and my putter. They have held me in all week and they really came through strong today. I couldn't be any happier.
"A couple of years ago, I wouldn't have thought I could have won a tournament like this."
Scintillating
Justin Rose produced a scintillating back nine 31 to finish tied third alongside Marc Leishman and David Toms, that trio finishing just two behind Laird.
Spain's Sergio Garcia continued his revival by carding a final round 70 to finish eighth while England's Ian Poulter (71) also shot under par to end tied 12th.
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson - looking to hone their games in time for The Masters a week on Thursday - finished back in tied 24th.
Both suffered poor finishes with Tiger double bogeying the 18th after finding water and Mickelson making three bogeys in his final five holes.
Woods happy
Woods said later he was happy with his final outing before Augusta.
"It was a very good week and a week I needed to see," said the four-time Masters champion. "It's getting better every week I've played, and just need to keep progressing and hopefully it will peak two more Thursdays from now."
