McIlroy revels in Irish Open triumph

Rory McIlroy says today’s closing stages of the Irish Open were as high pressure as he has experienced in his career.

Rory McIlroy secured his first win of the season by producing a dramatic finale in the Irish Open, his home tournament, at the K Club.

However, the 30-year-old Florida-based golfer three-putted the 16th for bogey in an eventual round of 68, to finish tied for second at nine under par with Welshman Bradley Dredge, who signed for a 66.

At that stage, McIlroy led Knox by one shot after eight holes of their final round, while Martin Kaymer set the clubhouse target thanks to a stunning round of 65, including an eagle at the last, which left him six under.

Rory McIlroy puts himself in prime position to win the Irish Open after firing this 3 wood to within two feet of the pin on the 18th. His previous best was seventh place in 2008. “That shot that Rory hit on 18 was a joke”.

Although for much of the final round it was anything but as McIlroy, who entered the final round with a 3 shot advantage, became becalmed as no-one seemed keen on threatening his victory march.

“It was absolutely incredible, the ovation I got when that ball landed on the 16th green, that sent shivers down my spine”.

McIlroy almost birdied the par-3 17th as well.

He now faces three majors in the next 10 weeks – and describes his Irish breakthrough as a needed psychological “catapult” to reclaim his best form.

Ireland’s consistently inconsistent weather added another layer of drama.

McIlroy had missed the cut in his home event for the last three years, but completed an error-free 70 in the weather-delayed third round on Sunday morning to claim a three-shot lead over Masters champion Danny Willett. Their day’s combined 21 holes of golf took almost 10 hours to complete as blue skies gave way to wintry monsoons that left fairways and greens waterlogged and carpeted with hailstones, causing two more suspensions in play.

Willett had led after day one and was sharing the lead at the end of day two but over the third and fourth rounds produced a run of 24 pars. He twice dropped shots into the Liffey to card a 5-over round of 77, including a double bogey on McIlroy’s fateful 16th.

“So maybe those last three holes today, and the second shots I hit into 16 and the last, will be the catalyst for another great summer going into the remaining three majors, the Olympics, the FedEx Cup and then later this year the Ryder Cup and holding onto my Race to Dubai title”.