‘Flying Finn’ Mikko Ilonen lead from start to finish to capture the Irish Open at Cork.
Ilonen, 34 celebrated his 300th European event and his four Tour victory with a one shot victory for a 13-under par tally on the Fota Island course.
Italy’s Edoardo Molinari posted a last day 67 to be second on 12-under par.
Molinari along with the England duo of Danny Willett and Matthew Baldwin secured the three spots available into next month’s British Open at Royal Liverpool.
Mikko Ilonen very laid back after his wire-to- wire Irish Open success. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
Ilonen now joins some of the greats of European Tour golf including the late Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnam, Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie and Padraig Harrington to have his name inscribed on the Irish Open trophy.
“It’s a very humbling moment to look at these names and while I had an idea who has won this tournament even before I came on tour, there is some great names who have won this tournament so it’s big thing for me,” he said.
Ilonen went into the event ranked No. 63 in the world and just one place outside of a career World Ranking high of 62 in December 2007.
“When I set my goals three years ago, when I was off for, what, six months or eight months because of ankle surgery, I made a three-year, and I’m now on the third year of that plan,” he said.
“But I need to get to higher in the rankings. I’m on the right path but I need to win at least one more to get to my goal. So I’ve got to the step that I can reach to my goals.”
Victory has lifted Ilonen up 17 places to 11th on the Race to Dubai.
Irish crowd favourite Graeme Dowell was never in the hunt for his first Irish Open success signing for 71 to finish three shots behind Ilonen in a share of 6th place.
