The 35-year-old finished four-under-par after shooting a final round two-under 70 at the Bay Hill Golf Course on Monday morning.

His final score would see him share 23^rd place with Venezuela's Jhonattan Vegas, England's Ian Poulter, Canada's Roger Sloan, Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat and American Kevin Kisner.

The Warrnambool export's final round included four birdies, three on the back nine, and a double bogey on the par-four 18^th. 

Leishman would finish eight shots behind eventual winner Italy's Francesco Molinari, who shot a final round eight-under 64 to steal victory from overnight leader England's Matthew Fitzpatrick.

On Friday it looked like the Australian world number 18, who won the invitational in 2017, was on track to have a tournament to forget after his 'walk of shame' on the 521-yard par-five sixth hole.

He hit his tee-shot but was unaware it had not crossed the water hazard until he was almost at where he thought his ball had landed halfway up the fairway.

It meant he had to turn around and walk 274 metres back to the tee to reload for what would be his third shot. He would later recover to finish the opening day on the course's par score of 72. 

Leishman made a small recovery on Saturday when he shot up the rankings with a two-under 70 to hold onto contention for an unlikely victory.

After Sunday's even round of 72 his chances were hanging by a thread and needed a miracle to steal victory from the overall leaders. 

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