Rory McIlroy held his nerve to win the Irish Open in a dramatic play-off and claim his first victory since completing the career Grand Slam at the Masters in April.
The world number two edged out Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren on the third extra hole to win his national title at the K Club for the second time – nine years after his first – at the end of a thrilling final round.
In a remarkable finish, McIlroy holed a 25-foot eagle putt on the 72nd hole to match Lagergren’s six-under 66 amid ecstatic scenes at the County Kildare course.
Both players birdied the first two play-off holes, but McIlroy secured the title after Lagergren found water on the third, giving the Northern Irishman his fourth win of the year just three weeks before the Ryder Cup.
“I thought it was going to be a nice homecoming, obviously coming home with a green jacket and all that, but this has been absolutely incredible,” McIlroy told Sky Sports.
“This has exceeded all of my expectations. I’m just so, so happy I could play the way I did this week for all of them and get the win.”
For McIlroy, there was a measure of redemption after the heartache of Royal County Down 12 months ago when he missed an eagle putt on the final hole to take Denmark’s Rasmus Hojgaard to extra holes.
On Sunday, however, McIlroy slammed his eagle putt home and ultimately prevailed in a play-off for the third time this year after the Players Championship and the Masters.
“I hit it, and I wanted to just be aggressive with it,” he added.
“It was such a cool moment, such a cool feeling for that to go in. That gave me a chance in the play-off.”
