McIlroy: I’m on the way back

Rory McIlroy is heading to this week’s PGA Championship with the addition of some much needed ‘sparkle’ to his game following a good finish in the WGC–Bridgestone Invitational.

McIlroy birdied two of his opening three holes and also his 15th in a final round 68 to share fifth place on eight under par, on a day delayed early for just under three hours due to thunderstorms lashing the Firestone course in Akron, Ohio.

Keegan Bradley, six shots back with only 13 holes left, pulled off a stunning victory over crest-fallen Jim Furyk at the in Akron last night.

Eleven years on from Tiger Woods beating him in a seven-hole play-off on the same course, Furyk was one in front with one to play, but double-bogeyed it to lose by one.

Bradley, who defends his PGA title this week, must have thought his chance had probably gone when he bunkered his approach to the 18th.

He even arrived to find the ball plugged, but splashed out to 15 feet and made the putt for par and a brilliant 64.

Furyk, meanwhile, had had a lucky break off the tee when his ball rebounded off a tree into the fairway, but from there he made a complete mess of the hole and missed a five-foot putt that would have forced the play-off.

World No 3-ranked McIlroy went into the last day of the $8.5 million event in a share of fourth place following a superb third-day 67 in very hot but windy conditions.

The expected poor forecast for day four forced officials into an 8am local time tee off but then the heavens opened at 9.15am and with most players crammed into the locker room glued to TV coverage of Andy Murray’s crushing success over Roger Federer to capture the tennis Olympic gold medal.

McIlroy will head to the PGA Championship this week with his third straight top-10 result in the now traditional event before the year’s final Major.

McIlroy, who has not figured in any of the three earlier Majors this year, commented after his Akron third round that he hasn’t played as well this year since closing out in a play-off in May to American Rickie Fowler for the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow.

“It’s getting there, it definitely is and I’ve worked hard to get it back,” said McIlroy.

“The last few weeks have been tough just playing so great, and obviously my expectations every time I tee it up are pretty high, and not to live up to my own expectations is not nice, but I feel like I’m definitely moving in the right direction.”

Graeme McDowell’s fourth round began poorly when he doubled the second and then bogeyed the third hole to drop back to level par before eventually carding a 72 for a share of 24th place at two over par.

Belfast’s Michael Hoey posted a 72 for a disappointing 15-over par tally in his first Bridgestone event and a week before he makes his PGA Championship debut.