RORY McILROY saw his medal hopes sink when he found the water on the 15th hole.
A run of five straight birdies had seen McIlroy move into a tie for third before disaster struck in the form of a double bogey.
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His round of 66 matched what he had posted on Saturday but ultimately there was a sense of frustration as he finished in joint fifth, with Jon Rahm.
The Spaniard had an even bigger collapse which allowed Scottie Scheffler to take gold, with Tommy Fleetwod securing silver and bronze going to Hideki Matsuyama.
McIlroy and Rahm finished two shots off the Japanese star’s 17 under par score.
McIlroy sighed: “I got on that run on the back nine and I thought any medal was possible then.
“When I turned I was six behind, I was 14 under par after 11 and Jon Rahm had got to 20 so I didn’t think I’d a chance of gold but everything started to happen really quickly then.
“I actually played OK, I played good on the way in. That wedge shot on 15 honestly I hit the shot that I wanted to hit, I just didn’t get it up in the air enough to have the wind carry it that extra two or three yards onto the green.
“I was very aware, I knew I was only one back at that point.
“Even with that shot on 15, I wanted to try to stay aggressive, it would have been easy to make a four but I wanted to try to make another birdie and get the most out of the run that I could.
“Unfortunately that didn’t happen. I was aware that I needed to do.
McIlroy couldn’t help but feel the same frustration he felt at this year’s US Open, and many majors before that.
He said: “I feel like I’ve been golf’s Nearly Man for the last three years.
“I obviously want that tide to turn and go from the Nearly Man to back to winning golf tournaments.
“It’s all well and good saying I’m close and close and close.
“Once I actually step through the threshold and turn these near misses and close calls into wins, that’s what I need to do.
“It’s been an incredible week, I obviously gave it a good go out there and it obviously wasn’t to be.”
But the 35-year-old has enjoyed this Olympic experience more than his previous one.
He said: “It’s been amazing.
“This Games has obviously felt a lot different than one I was involved in in Tokyo because of Covid.
“There’s just been a great feeling around these Games, particularly within the Irish camp and in this golf tournament as well.
“I really feel like golf in the Olympics needed it.
“I think just this has been my first Games where it’s felled like an Olympic Games, I guess.
“We weren’t able to interact with any other athletes in Tokyo because of COVID.
“To be able to go to some of the other events and to feel the spirit of the Olympics and what it’s all about and having dozens and dozens of athletes come from all over the word to compete in their individual sports and to be a part of that, it’s felt really cool.
“It’s been an incredible week, an incredible experience, and obviously for the Irish team, there’s still medals to fight for.”
Shane Lowry posted a 71 to finish tied for 26th.
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