Rory McIlroy expressed his satisfaction with his final competitive appearance before the Masters as Ryder Cup team-mate Henrik Stenson battled in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
McIlroy began the day seven shots behind 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 number one 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."
"I know it's a big deal but hopefully I can get my game as good as I possibly can" - Rory McIlroy
Padraig Harrington, however, ended the tournament on four-under overall after carding a final round 74.
Henrik Stenson had seen his two-shot overnight lead turned into a two-shot deficit in the space of eight holes, but fought back to reclaim the outright lead with six holes to play.
The Ryder Cup star had played the final four holes in four under par on Friday and Saturday but three-putted the 15th for a bogey and did the same for par on the 16th after finding the green in two.
And American Matt Every took full advantage with a birdie from 15 feet on the 18th to complete a closing 66 and became the third player in the tournament's history to successfully defend the title.
Stenson had seen his two-shot overnight lead turned into a two-shot deficit in the space of eight holes, but fought back to reclaim the outright lead with six holes to play.
The Ryder Cup star had played the final four holes in four under par on Friday and Saturday but three-putted the 15th for a bogey and did the same for par on the 16th after finding the green in two.
And American Every took full advantage with a birdie from 15 feet on the 18th to complete a closing 66 and became the third player in the tournament's history to successfully defend the title.
