Rasmus Højgaard holed out twice as he pipped native favorite Rory McIlroy to win the Irish Open at Royal County Down.
McIlroy appeared on track to assert his first skilled win on dwelling soil when he led by two pictures with 4 holes to play at a venue simply an hour from the place he grew up.
Nevertheless Højgaard had different concepts, as he accomplished an excellent closing 65 with 4 birdies within the final 5 holes.
McIlroy had taken a one-shot lead into the ultimate spherical and made the perfect begin with birdies on the primary and second. With taking part in companion Matteo Manassero then dropping pictures on the third and fourth, McIlroy briefly loved a four-shot lead earlier than making a bogey on the seventh after failing to rise up and down from left of the inexperienced.
He then missed from inside ten toes for birdie on each the eighth and the ninth as Højgaard kickstarted his problem with an outrageous chip-in for birdie on the tenth.
A birdie on the eleventh edged McIlroy two in entrance once more, however that benefit was worn out as Højgaard birdied 16 and McIlroy bogeyed 15.
CHIP-INS & COSTLY BOGEYS
Højgaard then dramatically holed out from a greenside bunker on 17 and, though McIlroy drew degree with a birdie on 16, the four-time Main winner charged his birdie putt on 17 previous the opening and missed the return.
Højgaard’s third birdie in a row on 18 meant McIlroy wanted to make an eagle on the identical gap to drive a play-off and a towering strategy from 191 yards gave him an opportunity from 15 toes, just for the eagle putt to slip simply vast.
Højgaard, for whom this was a fifth European title, stated: “It’s huge. It’s a kind of tournaments that you simply need to put your title on, so it’s superior.
“I used to be attempting to get to 8-under after which see if that was going to have an opportunity. I stayed affected person on the market, however I knew I needed to discover some gold on the again 9. I acquired away with a chip-in on 10, and it type of elevated my recreation a bit.
” Once more, 17, it was a poor second shot and I used to be a bit apprehensive that it might need been plugged within the bunker. However I used to be fortunate to get a superb lie and I used to be fairly assured that I may get it up-and-down, so then to gap it was clearly a key second.
“The timing of the win is ideal. I’ve set a pair targets that I need to obtain, and one in all them was getting a PGA Tour card this 12 months, and the opposite one is Ryder Cup subsequent 12 months. It’s good to get a step nearer to each.
TAKING THE POSITIVES
McIlroy, who missed the possibility of profitable his second Irish Open, stated: ” I felt like I used to be in charge of the event for a lot of the day. I used to be taking part in actually stable, doing what I wanted to do, making a whole lot of pars, making the odd birdie. Then the 2 bogeys on 15 and 17 opened the door for somebody to have a superb end like Rasmus did there on the previous few holes.”
“I performed properly this week, however lacking the inexperienced proper on 15 was the place that you could’t go. And I simply misjudged the pace with the primary putt on 17. I’m clearly actually disenchanted that I didn’t win, however I’ll attempt to take the positives and transfer on subsequent week to Wentworth.”
That roar from the group after I hit that second shot on 18 was fairly cool. I’ve had a good time being dwelling. It’s been too lengthy. I must maintain coming again extra usually, however it actually whets my urge for food much more for Portrush subsequent 12 months.”
