Rory McIlroy’s putt into ‘Road Hole’ bunker costs him shot at Dunhill Links title

Rory McIlroy had put an opening bogey-6 in the final round at St. Andrews behind him on Sunday and had the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in sight when the world No. 1 morphed into, well, any one of us watching from home, and putted into the famed “Road Hole” bunker.

Even casual golf fans are likely to recognize the renowned 17th hole at the Old Course. McIlroy, who had drilled six birdies (including four straight on holes 2-5) in Sunday’s finale to battle back to the top of the leaderboard, blamed his late brain cramp on fatigue.

“Look, I’m not 100 percent,” McIlroy, who complained last month about the long golf season, told reporters after finishing in a three-way tie for second at 16-under -- just a shot back of winner Oliver Wilson.

“My excitement level didn’t get above about three at any point during the round,” added the four-time major champion, who carded a final-round 4-under 68. “I’m ready for a break. I’m ready to rest.”

Though his energy level was ebbing, McIlroy likely was measuring the space on his trophy cabinet for the Dunhill hardware until the error toward the end, when his approach shot came up short of the green. Faced with the traditional “pitch and a putt,” Rory chose the flat stick, a miscue that led to a bogey that cost him a probable playoff spot with Wilson.

“Where I feel like I cost myself the tournament today was probably in the space of about 20 yards at the front of the green at the first and over at the road hill bunker. Not too far away from each other,” McIlroy said. “They are the two things, the only mistakes that I made all day.”

Despite his weariness, McIlroy will take just a five-day break back home in Northern Ireland before hitting the road again. The following schedule is enough to wear out even a buffed and toned 25-year-old:

Then, McIlroy pronounced, he was “done.”