Monday 28 March 2016 07:39, UK
Rory McIlroy said it had been a 'valuable week' for him despite losing to Jason Day in the WGC-Dell Match Play semi-finals.
McIlroy missed a couple of decent chances to extend the match against Day, who will become world No 1 on Monday, but eventually went down by one hole in Austin.
The Northern Irishman battled back after losing three holes in four just after the turn, but a missed birdie putt at the 17th and Day holing a 12-footer for par at last meant it would be a third place play-off against Rafa Cabrera Bello for him instead of the final.
"I thought it was a good quality match. If I have to look back on it there were a couple of opportunities around the third and fourth where I did not convert and then not birdieing 12 or 13 was the real downfall," he told Sky Sports.
"Losing 12 and 13, I think the catalyst for that was that shift in momentum on 11 and I never really recovered. To go two down I knew I had an uphill battle on my hands and Jason was not giving me anything.
"I made a couple of birdies in the last five holes but it just was not good enough.
"I feel like I played well, did not make a bogey out there and I did not hand him anything, but obviously disappointed I am not in the final."
And McIlroy is pleased with where his game is as he puts the finishing touches on his game ahead of the year's first major, The Masters.
McIlroy heads to Augusta for the eighth time in search of victory to complete the career grand slam - he finished fourth last year to claim his best Masters finish but was still six shots adrift of winner Jordan Spieth.
"I was saying coming into this week that no matter if I play three, six or seven rounds, playing match play and feeling like you are in contention every time you step on the first tee is a great feeling and something you can't replicate in practice," he added.
"The week has been very positive overall; I wish I would have been able to get one more win under my belt, but I am very happy with my game going into Augusta."
