Rory McIlroy came up agonisingly short in his bid for a second victory in the Arnold Palmer Invitational as Kurt Kitayama took the spoils.
McIlroy missed a ten-foot birdie putt on the final green to post the clubhouse lead at nine-under-par.
Kitayama, playing behind McIlroy, then birdied the 17th hole before finding the par four 18th in two shots to two-putt for the victory.
READ MORE: Jon Rahm one word warning will leave Rory McIlroy worried ahead of Masters
The American was winning on the PGA Tour for the first time and held off McIlroy and Harris English, who shared second place at eight-under-par.
It was a rollercoaster final round that saw an ever-changing leaderboard, with Jordan Spieth missing a host of putts after hitting the lead in the back nine.
McIlroy, seemingly needing a fast start, bogeyed his opening two holes.
But the Holywood man came fighting back with a string of birdied and was on the lead when standing on the par three 14th hole.
A pulled tee shot saw him drop a shot on the 14th before another dropped shot followed after an errant drive on the 15th hole.
He reached the par-five 16th hole in two to set up a birdie and regain a share of the lead, but Kitayama, whose round included a triple-bogey on the par four 9th hole, would not be denied.
Still, McIlroy can take some compensation from a $1,780,000 payday for finishing in a share of second place.
READ NEXT:
- Katie Taylor sends Eddie Hearn public ultimatum over Dublin fight
- Jack Kennedy to miss Cheltenham festival after failing to recover from broken leg in time
Conor McGregor slams 'dishonourable' fighters in late night social media rant
Stephen Kenny pinpoints when Kylian Mbappé is at his most dangerous ahead of France clash
Chris Farrell set for move to France after Munster release the Irish star
For all the latest Horseracing news please click here to sign up to our newsletter
