Matt Every wins Arnold Palmer Invitational

Matt Every of the USA fired a final round of 66 to successfully defend the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. He finished one clear of Sweden’s Henrik Stenson at Bay Hill.

Matt Every of the USA fired a final round of 66 to successfully defend the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. He finished one clear of Sweden’s Henrik Stenson at Bay Hill.

Every was three shots behind Henrik Stenson at the start of the final round and, early on Sunday it looked as though the title would be decided by one of the two players in the final group. Both Stenson and Morgan Hoffman got off to fast starts, with Hoffman moving ahead mid-way through the front nine.

Stenson regained the advantage at the start of the back nine with birdies at the 11th and 12th holes. The Swede was one ahead with four to play and looked sure to take the title. He had played the closing stretch brilliantly all week.

But, it wasn’t to be this time around. Stenson three-putted for bogey on the 15th and then three-putted again for par on the par-5 16th.

Meanwhile, Every made a clutch birdie putt on the 18th green to finish on 19-under-par and move one clear of Stenson.

“The one on 18 was straight downhill,” he said. “That’s what you want under pressure.”

The Swede still had a chance to match Every’s total – he needed a birdie at the home hole. He had a 20-foot putt to force a playoff, but he sent it well wide of the cup and had to settle for second place.

Every is only the third player, following Tiger Woods and Loren Roberts, to win back to back titles at Bay Hill.

Matt Jones of Australia birdied three of the last four to finish in third while, after his early charge, Morgan Hoffman faded to end the week alone in fourth.

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy closed with a 70 to finish the tournament in a tie for 11th place. It was his last start before the Masters.

"The main goal was to come here and try to win," said McIlroy of his debut at Bay Hill. "Couldn't do that. At least I got a couple of things out of this week, which is good."

Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Florida Mar 20-23, purse: $6,300,000, par: 72

1    Matt Every (USA)        68    66    69    66    269    $1,134,000 2    Henrik Stenson (Swe)    68    66    66    70    270    $680,400 3    Matt Jones (Aus)        71    65    67    68    271    $428,400 4    Morgan Hoffman (USA)    66    65    71    71    273    $302,400 5    Ben Martin (USA)        68    67    68    71    274    $252,000 T6    Kevin Na (USA)        67    70    69    69    275    $211,050 T6    Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Tha) 70 71    65    69    275    $211,050 T6    Jason Kokrak (USA)    67    71    65    72    275    $211,050 T9    Zach Johnson (USA)    71    71    68    66    276    $176,400 T9    Louis Oosthuizen (RSA)    69    68    70    69    276    $176,400

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage

Henrik Stenson, what's in the bag: