Danish Stars Spoil McIlroy’s Royal County Down Celebration For A Second Straight Time

3 weeks ago by 0

Danish-born golfers have denied overwhelming crowd favourite Rory McIlroy’s expected victory celebration for a second occasion at the host Royal County Down course.

Fifteen years ago Soren Kjeldsen was handed the gleaming Irish Open trophy by McIlroy, the then tournament host after McIlroy had hopelessly missed the halfway cut at the famed Northern Ireland course.

Now Kjeldsen’s young compatriot Rasmus Hogjaard has also denied McIlroy his maiden tournament victoy in Northern Ireland by birdieing the final three holes, and with McIlroy hopelessly missing a 72nd hole eagle putt that would have sent the tournament into a play-off.

Victory is the Callaway attached Hogjaard’s fifth DP World Tour title and now two more Tour wins than his 31-year-old twin brother, Nicolai.

“Good question. Yeah, we seem to do well at this event. I don’t think there’s any explanation what does it for us. But yeah, it’s great a great win for Denmark”, said Hogjaard when asked about the Danish flag high over Royal County Down for a second straight Irish Open occasion.

And Hojgaard was asked his thoughts on McIlroy letting slip victory on home soil.

“Yeah, I’ve gutted for him, trying to win at home,” he said. “But at the same time, I’m very happy for myself to come through with this win now. But I know how much it would have meant for him to win this event”.

In the bigger career picture for Rasmus the win now takes him to second on the DP World ‘Race to Dubai’ and almost certain to secure his 2025 PGA Tour card and, if that happens, then he will join his brother playing Stateside in the New Year.

“It was a top goal this year”, he said when asked about joining Nicolia. “Yeah, it’s going to be cool I can go over and play in America with my brother, Nicolai, now. It makes our lives a bit easier.

“It was a tough one last year but definitely motivated me”.

As for McIlroy, it is a case of another one getting away from him.

“Felt like I was in control of the tournament for most of the day. Felt like I was playing really solid, doing what I needed to do, making a lot of pars, making the odd birdie. Then obviously the two bogeys on 15 and 17 opened the door for someone to have a good finish like what Rasmus did there on the last few holes”, he said,

“”Yeah, unfortunately I played well this week, missing the green right on 15 was the place that you can’t go. And just misjudged the speed with the first putt on 17.

Overall, yeah, obviously really disappointed that I didn’t win but I’ll try to take the positives and move on next week to Wentworth”.

 

 



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