McIlroy concedes to choosing safe mentality at WGC

Rory McIlroy feels he should have played his natural game in the final round at Doral after watching Adam Scott take the title.

McIlroy went into the final 18 holes of the WGC-Cadillac Championship with a three-shot lead which was extended to four early on.

However, with a more conservative approach to try and protect his lead, the Northern Irishman could not stretch his advantage and saw it slip away as Scott made a succession of birdies on the back nine to roar past him and come back from six shots adrift in Florida.

McIlroy also dropped a few shots to end up in share of third place with England’s Danny Willett and is still searching for his first victory of the season.

The four-time major winner will be back in action on Thursday for round one of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill and, speaking to the press ahead of his opening effort, the world number two concedes he got it wrong

“It’s a tough one because if I go out there and shoot 71, I win the tournament,” he said. “I was playing smart and hitting it to 30 feet but you’re not going to make birdies or make gains by doing that.

“Three bogeys on a day like that wasn’t too bad but to only make one birdie I felt was my downfall and if I had to take it back, I would have played a little bit more aggressively.”

Tagged PGA Tour, Rory McIlroy, WGC Championship