Rory McILroy won his second title at the Ireland Open with a thrilling victory against Joakim Lagergren in Sweden.
The Northern Irishman had to produce a magnificent eagle putt on the 72nd hole to take Lagergren, who had himself made a brilliant eagle on the 16th, in the playoffs.
After the two players sneaked the first two additional holes, Lagergren put his approach shot in the water to give McILroy a chance for the victory. And to the roaring pleasure of the crowd, the champion in title of the masters was able to make another birdie and fill the victory in the roller coaster.
“I feel so lucky that I can do that, I can do it in front of these people,” said McILroy in his interview after the Tour.
“The support was absolutely incredible all week. I thought it was going to be a beautiful house, returning obviously with a green jacket and all that, but it was absolutely incredible. It exceeded all expectations.”
The top of the ranking was cluttered throughout the final round of Sunday at the K Club in Straffan, but it was McILroy and Lagergren who emerged at the top of the battery out of 17 under the two shot 66.
McILroy had five birdies and this sensational eagle on the last one, while Lagergren had four birdies to go with his eagle on the 16th, which saw him resume the advance of the tournament.
The Spanish duo of Ángel Hidalgo and Rafa Cabrera Bello, who made a hole in one on the third, both finished two shots out of 15 sous.
For McILroy, the victory occurs nine years after his first title of Irish Open and adds another piece of silverware to his memorable season, five months after having finished a big slam in career at the Masters.
He also gives n ° 2 to the world a boost before the Ryder Cup of Bethpage Black in New York later this month, where McILroy will seek to keep the title with his European teammates.
“To do what I did earlier in the year, then get home and win my national open, whatever happens for the rest of the year, it’s a pretty cool year,” he said. “2025 will be one of the best, if not the best, in my career.
“I am so happy that my game is in good shape, I feel like I play well,” he added. “It excites me for what happens.”
