Shane Lowry says a sudden change in weather scuppered his chances of winning the Honda Classic.
Needing a birdie on the 18th at the PGA National to force a play-off, Lowry's chances of doing so were hampered by the weather.
A deluge of rain meant he was unable to take on the green in two, and he failed to make the four required on the 533-yard par-five.
The 2019 Open Champion ended up carding a final-round of three-under 67, with final total of nine-under-par one shot short of the winner, Sepp Straka.
“Yeah, it's hard to take, to be honest," a dejected Lowry admitted afterwards.
"Feel like I've got the tournament stolen from me today.
"You know, he's [Straka] gone 3 under the last five on this course. I played the golf perfectly to win the tournament, and that's this game sometimes and that's this level,”
The last hole at the Palm Beach Gardens course is one which players had targeted as a birdie opportunity on a challenging closing stretch.
Ordinarily, Lowry would comfortably have the armoury to reach the green in two, but the rain severely hampered his distance.
The Offaly native's tee shot travelled just 241 yards, compared to the 334-yard carry Straka managed having played his tee shot before the rain arrived.
“The last hole was, that was as bad a break as I've ever got," Lowry continued.
"You know, especially when you're standing on the tee and you see him over that left bunker, which I would've been able to do if there was no rain, because I need a drive and a 4- or 5-iron.
"Probably would've given myself a better chance with a 4.”
The second-place finish for Lowry represents his best performance of the season so far, with the Players Championship and the Masters both on the horizon.
He's still searching for a first win since his memorable triumph at the Open Championship at Portrush in 2019.
