American Russell Henley birdied the first play-off hole to win the Honda Classic as Rory McIlroy was left to lament a tournament that slipped through his fingers.

Russell Henley hugs his caddie while a disappointed Rory McIlroy looks on. PHOTO: Getty Images

Henley outlasted McIlroy, Ryan Palmer and Scotsman Russell Knox on the first extra hole to secure his second PGA Tour title after he won emphatically on debut at the Sony Open in Hawaii 14 months ago.

Multiple players had chances to win during a volatile final round at the Champions course at PGA National in Florida. McIlroy led Henley by two shots after three rounds and cruised through his first five holes on Sunday in one-under-par. The Northern Irishman, who won the Honda Classic two years ago and was looking to snap an 18-month winless streak in America, then began dropping shots regularly, most dramatically at the 16th hole where a double-bogey ensued after his second shot found the water hazard. Yet with Palmer and Knox finished at eight-under and playing partner Henley looking unlikely to improve on that mark, McIlroy gave himself one almighty last chance to win the tournament outright. His heroic second shot into the par-5 18th hole left him with an 11-foot eagle putt to leapfrog his opponents and take the title. Alas he missed, sending all four players back to the 18th where Henley two-putted for birdie as the only one of the four with a genuine birdie attempt.

Palmer was left to rue a sloppy finish of his own. A bogey at the 72nd hole dropped the Texan to eight-under, which didn’t appear quite so costly at the time until McIlroy’s late stumble. Even Henley appeared to have lost his chance when he found water at the tough par-3 15th to record a double-bogey.

McIlory finds the water from a fairway bunker on the 16th hole, which saw him double bogey and drop out of the lead for the first time in the tournament. PHOTO: Getty Images

The 24-year-old from Georgia kick-started his winning run with a spectacular hole-out eagle at the par-4 14th in the third round, which catapulted Henley into second place and into Sunday’s final group with McIlroy.

Earlier, world No.1 Tiger Woods withdrew after 13 holes of his final round complaining of back pain. He stood even-par for the tournament at the time and is yet to complete 72 holes on the PGA Tour this year. Woods is in some doubt for this week’s WGC–Cadillac Championship, where he is the defending champion.

The best of the Australian contingent at the Honda was Stuart Appleby, who carded a third-round 65 to be in contention before closing with a 72. A tie for eighth was the Victorian’s best finish on any Tour since the 2012 Australian Open.

LEADERBOARD

*1. Russell Henley (US)   64-68-68-72—272

T2. Ryan Palmer (US)   68-66-69-69—272

T2. Russell Knox (Sco)   70-63-68-71—272

T2. Rory McIlroy (N.Ire)   63-66-69-74—272

5. Billy Hurley III (US)   70-67-67-69—273

*Won on first play-off hole

ALSO:

T8. Stuart Appleby (Vic)   69-69-65-72—275

T12. Adam Scott (Qld)   68-69-70-69—276

T46. John Senden (Qld)   72-63-73-72—280

T55. Tim Wilkinson (NZ)   70-69-67-75—281

For full final scores, click here