• 'I only missed two greens and had so many chances'
• 'I just didn't hole enough putts,' admits McIlroy
Rory McIlroy shot a final-round 67 to claim a share of second place at the Kolon Korea Open. The Northern Irishman, who had fallen 10 shots behind the lead after three rounds, carded five birdies in his four-under-par round to end one behind the winner Kang Sung-hoon.
It was a strong finish after what had been a frustrating third day for the world No6 at the Woo Jeong Hills Country Club course near Cheonan. The only blemish in the final round for McIlroy, who had been playing his first tournament for a month, was a bogey at the 16th.
McIlroy said: "I could have shot anything, absolutely anything. I only missed two greens and had so many chances, but it was like the story of yesterday – I just didn't hole enough putts.
"I created so many more chances today that it could have been 61, 62. It just wasn't to be. I didn't birdie any of the par fives, which was disappointing.
"I felt like it could have been so much lower the last couple of days."
McIlroy was three off the pace when he completed his round but the capitulation of the overnight leader Kim Hyung-tae may have exacerbated his sense of frustration.
Kim had begun the final round with a four-stroke lead but shot a six-over 77, which included a triple bogey six at the 13th, to finish alongside McIlroy on three under.
Three other Koreans, Lee Sang-hee, Lee Chang-woo and Joong-kyung, also finished on three under.
Kang scooped the title after a strong back nine, including a crucial birdie at the last. Kang was one over for the day after 11, but birdies at the 14th and 15th, as well as the 18th, saw him come home in 32 for a two-under-par round of 69.