McIlroy Soaring With Final Hole Eagle To Land Second Irish Open Title

3 days ago by 0

A second Irish Open title, a 20th DP World Tour success and a 45th pro career triumph for current World No. 2 and overwhelming home favourite Rory McIlroy in capturing the Amgen Irish Open at the K. Club.

The par-5 18th is the second easiest on the host Irish Open course but then McIlroy faced the pressure of knowing if he had any chance of victory he needed to clear the water guarding the green and then hole what was a 28-foot eagle putt to send the event into any play-off.

And McIlroy brilliantly answered the pressure after the Swede had also eagled the par-5 16th and thne move to the clubhouse lead on 17-under when he birdied the last.

Then as the reigning Masters champion and the Swede headed into the play-off it was McIlroy who emerged victorious as he had done at the K Club just over six years ago.

The pair had ended regulation play tied at 17-under so as it customary it was back to the 18th where both players went close to eagles before tidying up for matching birdie 4s.

It meant back to the 18th for a third time in the day and with McIlroy’s approach only just managing to clear the water but it was the same result for a birdie. However, at the third time of asking Lagergren’s ball found the water hazard from where he eventually settled for a par 5 and thus allowing McIlroy to win with two putts for his third straight play-off birdie 4.

But if you thought the cheer around the 18th green minutes earlier post McIlroy’s eagle 3 putt was through the roof then the roof was blown off with the noise after McIlroy denied the current World No. 194 ranked Lagergren to claim an ‘individual’ victory on home soil for just a second time in his pro career.

Indeed it was also McIlroy’s third victory of the year – the AT & T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, The Masters and now a second Irish Open victory trophy.

McIlroy said: “I just feel so lucky that I get to do this in front of these people, the support has been amazing all week. So happy I could play the way I did this week and get the win.”

Spanish players filled the remainder of the top five, with a hole in one helping Rafa Cabrera Bello join Saturday’s star Angel Hidalgo in third while Angel Ayora was fifth on his own.

 

 

 



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