World News – CA – McIlroy finishes in style for top 20 at Zozo

Rory McIlroy posted his third consecutive round in the 60s to finish in the top 20 at the Zozo Championship @ Sherwood on Sunday

The tournament was won by Patrick Cantlay with 23 under, one shot ahead of Justin Thomas and Jon Rahm and eight ahead of McIlroy

Quadruple major winner McIlroy was still chasing the leaders of the California event after his disappointing start to the week, scoring 73 points on Thursday

However, the former world number one played superb golf over the weekend with a straight 67 followed by a 66 below par to finish on Sunday.

McIlroy hit a remarkable 29 birdies this week, however, his Thursday round featured four bogeys and two double bogeys, and as a result, the Holywood native finished the tournament with 15 under

Two birdies to start his Sunday, McIlroy then hit seven straight pars before making four birdies in a row to start the last nine

Another birdie of 15 was put back on the next hole as McIlroy finished the tournament with a 17th place share

Starting the day with three headshots, Cantlay was among several players to make the most of good conditions in the top nine, carding five birdies against a bogey to turn four under 36

But as lead duo Justin Thomas and Jon Rahm – ranked third and second in the world – stagnated on the bottom nine, Cantlay set off with four birdies between 11th and 15th to take the lead

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A six bogey from Cantlay over the long 16th gave Thomas and Rahm hope, but the 28-year-old clinically pared the last two holes to complete a seven under 65 for the 23 under win for the tournament

« I do a lot of work and try to do the right things all the time, so when it all comes together it’s really rewarding because all that hard work pays off, » Cantlay said.

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Thomas golfed consistently, scoring four birdies and a bogey on a under-three 69, but was edged out by Cantlay’s final flurry

Thomas finished tied for second with Rahm, who was well placed after five birdies through a spotless first 11 holes before successive bogeys on 12th and 13th en route to a four under 68

Meanwhile on the LPGA Tour, Stephanie Meadow posted a 70th final round to take a 34th-place share in the Drive On Championship, while Leona Maguire finished the tournament with a 69th share after a 73 close

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Jon Rahm, Patrick Cantlay, Justin Thomas, PGA TOUR