Published Sunday, 10 June 2012
Rory McIlroy shows his frustration after making a double bogey (© Getty)
American Dustin Johnson won only his second event back from injury after the blunder.
Johnson, who was out for over two months with back trouble, birdied two of the last three holes for a closing 66 and a one-stroke victory over compatriot John Merrick, who almost chipped in to force a play-off.
McIlroy, who starts his defence of the US Open on Thursday, had gone two ahead with birdies at the second, fourth, seventh and short 11th, where he almost sank his tee shot, but he drove into the water on the next and bogeyed the 14th as well by three-putting from 32 feet.
A 20-footer for birdie on the 17th made him joint leader again, but just as Johnson was matching that to nose in front the Holywood golfer drove into more water off the last tee and with a double bogey six he dropped into a tie for seventh place.
The result is still a massive improvement on his last three tournaments where he recorded three consecutive missed cuts.
The 23-year-old world number two is now heading to San Francisco to defend his US Open title.