McIlroy eagles the last, the crowd go nuts” – Andrew Coltart
“Just box office” – Paul McGinley
“One of the coolest moments of my career” – Rory McIlroy
2025 was a year adorned by magical moments for Rory McIlroy. In September, this reporter was privileged to experience one of those moments at close hand.
There’s a special atmosphere in the air on the final day of an Irish Open with McIlroy in contention. For the marquee Irish players it’s a tournament like no other; the demands that week are significant, on and off the course.
Nine years on from his maiden Irish Open victory, also at the K Club, McIlroy had an opportunity to emulate the great Severiano Ballesteros by winning the Masters and Irish Open titles in the same year.
Overnight he was four shots adrift of the leader, Frenchman Adrien Saddier. Briefly, despite opening with a bogey, McIlroy topped Sunday’s leaderboard, but an eagle three was required on the closing hole to extend his involvement into a play-off.
Access ‘inside the ropes’ is afforded to journalists at the Amgen Irish Open. Having obtained the requisite armband in the K Club Media Centre, I was fully aware of my responsibilities: don’t get too close to the players; and be as inconspicuous as possible.
I’d scurried greenside on the 18th for a chance to witness the conclusion of McIlroy’s final round.
A sweetly struck approach shot over water on the par 5 set up an eagle chance. McIlroy’s ability to deliver in high-pressure scenarios is undisputed.
Slowly but steadily the putt made its way towards the hole. Time it seemed, froze, and then the ball dropped. Euphoria for McIlroy, his caddie and close friend Harry Diamond, those gathered around the green, and a considerable audience following the drama on TV/online/radio.
Playing partner Alfredo García-Heredia seemed genuinely exhilarated by the experience. Box office indeed.
We’re going to a play-off! An absolutely incredible eagle putt on the 18th hole takes the roof off the K Club and sends Rory McIlroy to a play-off with Joakim Lagergren.
📺 Watch https://t.co/8XIEOHjQi5
📱Follow https://t.co/KP2vwfqdeg #RTESport pic.twitter.com/dU3G8Hnyhf
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 7, 2025
There remained a play-off with Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren to negotiate. Almost inevitably, Rory won his second Irish Open title on the third play-off hole after a third successive birdie on 18.
“Really special, the support of the crowds and playing in that atmosphere,” he said afterwards.
“Coming down the last few holes knowing what I needed to do and having the crowd sort of spur me on… incredible day.”
McIlroy is now comfortable with the weight of expectation that comes his way at the Irish Open.
“I think it’s taken me a while to get to this point where I do embrace it and I do enjoy it,” he reflected.
“After the year that I’ve had and the career that I’ve had, to be able to come home and play in front of these crowds and really feel the love but also show them my appreciation for their support over the years, I love it.”
For RTÉ Sport’s Greg Allen, covering his 36th Irish Open, McIlroy’s win was reminiscent of prime Tiger Woods: “It was like what Tiger used to do. It was a victory built on emotion and once he got into the play-off so dramatically there was no way he was going to let the thousands around the 18th green down.”
In April, Allen also covered McIlroy’s Masters win at August National.
“There were two elements which were beyond the simple winning of one of the most iconic sporting events in the world,” he said.
“One was the level of setback he had been subjected to over the years around Augusta which clearly resonated with the public, and the other was the magnitude of what he achieved in becoming only the second golfer in more than half a century to complete the career Grand Slam.
“People were just happy for him and to see the burden lifted from his shoulders. I think his own explosion of emotion on the 18th green, which was unprecedented in the history of the Masters, maybe even in the history of golf, touched a nerve.”
In McIlroy’s own words, 2025 was the year that dreams are made of. Along with the Irish Open and Masters wins there were victories at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am and Players Championship.
Despite being subjected to relentless verbal abuse from sections of the crowd, McIlroy contributed 3.5 points to Europe’s Ryder Cup win over the United States at Bethpage.
The season culminated with a fourth successive – and seventh overall – Race to Dubai title.
McIlroy produced another 18th green eagle on the final day of the DP World Tour Championship to make the play-off. It was almost identical to the final day K Club eagle. In this instance McIlroy lost the play-off to his Ryder Cup team-mate Matt Fitzpatrick on the first extra hole.
A seventh Harry Vardon trophy moved McIlroy into outright second on the all-time list, behind only eight-time winner Colin Montgomerie.
2025 concluded with two highly prestigious accolades in the space of three days, McIlroy won both the BBC Sports Personality of the Year and the RTÉ Sport Sportsperson of the Year award.
