RORY MCILROY MADE a belated charge to finish tied second at the Kolon Korean Open.
The two-time major champ shot a four-under 67 at the $1 million OneAsia event, held on the par-71 Woo Jeong Hills Country Club, south of Seoul. The former world number one felt he played well enough to record a ’61 or 62′ but rued a string of missed putts and remains without a win in 2013.
McIlroy put together his best round of the tournament with four birdies, one eagle and one bogey. The Holywood native ended in second place with four others at three-under 281, one stroke behind the champion Kang Sung-Hoon of South Korea.
In his two previous appearances at the South Korean national championship, McIlroy tied for third in 2009 and finished the runner-up in 2011.
McIlroy failed to end his winless drought in the first tournament of his late-season swing through Asia but was happy with how he played.
“I only missed two greens and had so many chances,” he said. “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 hit the ball really well off the tee and my iron play was very solid as well. I feel like my game is in good shape going into the next few weeks, and that’s a good thing.”
Kang Sung-Hoon captured the title after firing a two-under 69 on the final day to finish at four-under 280. He made four birdies against two bogeys.
Overnight leader Kim Hyung-Tae blew a four-stroke lead en route to a disastrous six-over 77, and received a two-stroke penalty for grounding his club in a hazard on the par-3 13th. His day included just one birdie against four bogeys and a triple bogey.
