Arnold Palmer Invitational: Henrik Stenson angry as Matt Every wins

Henrik Stenson bogeyed the 15th and achieved par at the 16th, missing chances for birdies at both

A frustrated Henrik Stenson blamed rules officials for his poor putting as Matt Every retained the Arnold Palmer Invitational title by one shot.

Sweden's Stenson was a shot ahead with four holes to play, but paid for three-putting at the 15th and 16th after being put 'on the clock' by officials.

Every, of the United States, birdied the final hole, at which Stenson only managed par as he finished second.

"It's hard when you don't feel like you can take the time you want," he said.

"It's busy enough trying to close out a golf tournament and to play the finishing holes without being on the clock. I did not see the reason for that really."

Under competition rules, a group is put on the clock if it falls behind the allotted time for each hole and has also fallen well behind the preceding group.

Players are then timed on every shot and receive a one-stroke penalty for the second time they take too long, though not the first. According to the officials at Bay Hill, Florida, Stenson's pairing with American Morgan Hoffmann was the slowest of the day.

Matt Every's only previous PGA Tour win was last year's Arnold Palmer Invitational

Every, who is from Florida, said of his winning putt: "I kind of had a feeling. I was shaking some of those putts in but the one on 18, straight downhill, that's what you want when under pressure."

Northern Ireland's world number one Rory McIlroy finished eight shots off the lead in a tie for 11th place, while Hoffmann finished fourth, one shot behind Australia's Matt Jones and four adrift of Every.

McIlroy was let down by a poor finish to his third round on Saturday, when he bogeyed at the 14th, 15th and 16th holes.

Starting seven shots off the lead on Sunday, he threatened a recovery with birdies on the fourth and sixth, but bogeys on the ninth and 12th effectively ended his chances.

McIlroy told Sky Sports 4: "It would have been nice to get into contention but I'm happy with my progress and have another couple of weeks to work on some things so that, I hope, I go to Augusta ready."