Mission impossible for Irish

GRAEME McDOWELL’S disappointing season came back to haunt him when he and Rory McIlroy again let victory slip from their grasp for a second time running in the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China.

The alternate shot format on the last day again proved to be Ireland’s Achilles Heel with McIlroy and McDowell battling their way to a level-par 72, just as they did in 2009 when finishing a stroke behind Italy.

The US Open-winning pair commenced the last day in front but on this occasion a similar 72 on the Blackstone course sent them into a share of fourth at 21 under par and three shots behind US pair Matt Kuchar and Gary Woodland.