Henrik Stenson blows Bay Hill chance

• Henrik Stenson blows two-shot overnight lead at Bay Hill
• Two three-putts “cost me the tournament,” said the Swede
• Rory McIlroy finishes  T11 – eight shots behind winner Matt Every

Henrik Stenson surrendered a two-shot final round lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational to hand Matt Every his second title in as many years at Bay Hill.

The Swede held the overnight lead on 16-under, two clear of Morgan Hoffmann, and looked like the favourite right up until two three-putts on the 15th and 16th holes, allowing Every to snatch victory.

The 31-year-old American shot 66, the joint-lowest round of the day, to grab his second PGA Tour win, with his previous success also at Bay Hill last year.

Speaking after his win, he said: “We had a little wind today. The greens were much firmer so I knew yesterday four, five-under didn’t go that far. Today, four, five-under went a lot further and I just kept plugging along.

“I did a really good job this week of keeping everything – just forgetting about the past, good or bad. I’m proud of the work I’ve been putting in and I’ve had a lot of help the last few months and it’s been good.”

Every’s win now guarantees him a Masters invitation and lifts him up more than 50 places in the world rankings to No.40.

Meanwhile, a disappointed Henrik Stenson was left to rue being put on the clock at the 15th hole, a move that he claimed affected his putts.

“Problems kind of started on 15. We got on the clock again which when you’re coming down the stretch, you want to be able to have five extra seconds not to try and rush your routines and playing,” Henrik Stenson said.

“I kind of rushed my putting on 16 and three-putted and that’s really what cost me the tournament” – Henrik Stenson

“So, on the green, I didn’t really have much time to look at my putt and rushed it a little bit and three-putted. Again, I kind of rushed my putting on 16 and three-putted and that’s really what cost me the tournament.”

Despite his frustration, Henrik Stenson is in excellent form with the Masters less than three weeks away, finishing second, T4, T4 in his last three tournaments.

Rory McIlroy finished T11 on his first visit to Bay Hill in his last event before Augusta, eight shots behind Every, while Scots Russell Knox and Martin Laird finished on seven-under and five-under respectively.

Henrik Stenson stutters at Bay Hill :: Your thoughts

With the Swede in top form heading into Augusta, is he the favourite to win the tournament? Leave your thoughts in the ‘Comments’ section below.