McIlroy claims dramatic Irish Open win at third hole of sudden-death playoff

Rory McIlroy sensationally claimed his second Amgen Irish Open title when he brilliantly eagled the 72nd hole to force a playoff with Joaqim Lagergren before going on to win with his third birdie at the third hole of a tense sudden-death playoff.

Twelve months after finishing second to Denmark’s Rasmus Hojgaard, when he shaved the hole with an eagle putt at Royal County Down’s 18th that would have forced a playoff, the Masters champion drained a 28 footer at the last to card a bogey-free 66 and tie with the Swede on 17-under.

Both men birdied the 548-yard 18th the first time around in sudden death, Largergren (33) two putting from 35 feet as McIlroy (38) matched him from around 28 feet.

It was the same again on the second playoff hole, where McIlroy hit his seven-iron approach heavy but two putted from 60 feet for birdie, making a three and a half footer for his four before Lagergren matched him from a few inches closer, having shaved the hole from around 25 feet.

At the third extra hole, Lagergren’s approach landed left of the pin but bounced left into the lake.
McIlroy hit safely to 50 feet and lagged his third to two inches to set up a winning birdie four as Lagergren failed to chip in to match him.

It was a thrilling finale to an action-packed final day that saw McIlroy claim his 20th DP World Tour win and a cheque for $1.02m (€873,463).
"Look, I just, I feel just so lucky that I get to do this in front of these people,” McIlroy said.

"The support has been absolutely amazing all week.

"I thought it was going to be a nice homecoming, obviously, coming home with a green jacket and all that. But this has been absolutely incredible.

"This has exceeded all of my expectations and just so so happy I could play the way I did this week for all of them, and get the win.”

It was sweet redemption for McIlroy after what happened at Royal County Down last year.

“It's absolutely incredible. I love coming home. I love playing in this atmosphere,” he said. "Moments like this, these are the things you're going to remember well after your career is over, and this is a really special day.”

As for that eagle putt at the 18th in regulation, he said he’d never experienced anything like the reaction of the crowd when it slammed into the back of the hole and dropped.

“I don't think so,” he said. "You know, I had a putt on the last green last year at RCD to force a play off with Rasmus, and it just missed on the high side.

"So felt like it was a little bit of a redemption. And I hit it, and I wanted to just be aggressive with it.

“Such a cool moment, such a cool feeling for that to go in. And you know, that gave me a chance in the playoff.

"And the playoff the way the 18th was playing today, it just felt it was a case of who was going to blink first.

“Joaquim hit a poor second shot in on that playoff hole and that opened the door for me. I’m just so happy to be able to win my second Irish Open."

As for the crowd support, he said: "Again, I feel very fortunate, because there’s probably very few golfers and in the world that get the support that I get when I go home.

“Maybe Jon Rahm in Spain, maybe a few others. But this absolutely incredible.

"I don't take it for granted. You know, I feel very grateful and very lucky that I get to do this, and can't wait to celebrate tonight.

He’s also excited for what lies ahead with the BMW PGA next week followed by Europe’s bid to retain the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.

“To do what I did earlier in the year, and then to come home and win my National Open, no matter what happens for the rest of the year, that's a pretty cool year.

"2025 is going to go down as one of the best, if not the best, in my career.

“But we're not finished yet. I've got a big week next week at Wentworth. And then, obviously, everyone's looking forward to the Ryder Cup.

“But I'm just so happy my game's in good shape. I feel like I'm playing well, you know, and that excites me for what's coming up.”

Four strokes behind France’s Adrien Saddier overnight, McIlroy overcame an opening bogey with three birdies in his next four holes on a showery final day in Co Kildare.

But while he birdied the ninth to grab a share of the lead with Lagergren, Rafa Cabrera Bello and Saddier on 14 under, he was just one-under on the back nine and left needing a three at the last to keep his title hopes alive.

Unlike last year, he made no mistake, rolling in his putt to raise a massive roar from the 13,000 crowd.

Lagergren had snatched the lead with an eagle three at the 16th where he hit spectacular 266 yard three wood to five feetHe then birdied the last to shoot 66 at set the target at 17 under, edging past Cabrera Bello, who had a hole-in-one at the third en route to a 67 that eventually left him tied for third with compatriot Angel Hidalgo on 15 under.

Shane Lowry had little luck with the putter all week and while he closed with a one-under 71 to tie for 15th on seven under, he heads to the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth feeling good about his game.

“I felt like I played okay again but I never got the momentum going,” Lowry said. “Standing here at the end of the week on seven under, that’s by far, the worst score I could have shot this week.

“But there's still a lot of positives to take from it. I played really nicely and I feel like I go to Wentworth next week now with a little bit of a spring in my step with how I'm driving the golf ball. You need to drive it well around there and if I can continue that on, I'll do all right.

“I said at the start of the week, if I can't be excited for these next few weeks, I might as well pack it in.”

Tom McKibbin tied for 20th on six-under after a closing 69 while fledgling professional Alex Maguire tied for 50th on level par after a 73.

The Laytown and Bettystown golfer (24) birdied the last to boost his cheque by around €4,000, taking home around the biggest cheque of his career of around €20,000.

“A lot of times I could have thrown the towel in and come last by 15, but I really hung in there,” Maguire said.

“I’m not driving home saying I contended in the Irish Open, but in my own race, I feel like I can walk away pretty proud of myself.”