• Arnold Palmer Invitational

McIlroy seeing progress ahead of Masters tilt

Rory McIlroy is aiming for a career grand slam at the Masters © AP

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Rory McIlroy expressed satisfaction with his final competitive appearance before the Masters as Matt Every won the Arnold Palmer Invitational for the second straight year.

McIlroy began the day seven shots behind Ryder Cup team-mate Henrik Stenson and despite briefly closing the gap to five with birdies on the fourth and sixth, bogeys on the ninth and 12th ended his chances of an unlikely win on his Bay Hill debut.

The world No.1 at least ended in style with birdies on the 16th and 18th for a closing round of 70 ahead of his bid to win a third major title in succession and complete the career grand slam at Augusta.

"I feel like I got what I wanted out of the week, four good competitive rounds," McIlroy told Sky Sports 4. "I saw some progress on some of the things I was working on last week. Still need to work on some things ahead of Augusta.

"It would have been nice to get into contention and feel what is was like to have a chance to win but I am happy with my progress and have another couple of weeks to work on some things and hopefully go to Augusta ready.

"I am excited going there with the opportunity to achieve three in a row, the career grand slam. It's a nice position to be in. I'm going to embrace it, try not to build it up too much. I know it's a big deal but hopefully I can get my game as good as I possibly can."

Every rallied from a four-shot deficit last year for his first career victory at Bay Hill and came from three shots behind on Sunday, making an 18-foot birdie on the 18th to clinch victory from Stenson. His six-under final round of 66 again sends him to the Masters.

Stenson closed with a 70. He had a one-shot lead until a three-putt bogey on the 15th hole and a three-putt par from the fringe on the par-5 16th. He missed a 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole that would have forced a play-off.

Every finished at 19-under overall and becomes the first player since 1987 to win Bay Hill with all four rounds in the 60s.

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