Rory McIlroy collected his fourth title of the season at the Irish Open on Sunday and with it his first since that balmy evening in Augusta five months ago. Characteristically, none of it was remotely straightforward.
That he won on the third play-off hole against the Swede Joakim Lagergren was dramatic in its own right, and yet it had nothing on how he forced the extra holes in the first place.
He did so by reaching the green of the par-five 18th in two and fully aware that to prolong this bid to win his national open, his 27-footer had to drop for eagle. For some clarity, only one other golfer had carded a three on the hole all day.
But drop it did, and after McIlroy and Lagergren both went birdie-birdie through two reruns of the final hole, the latter blinked with an approach into the water.
Another McIlroy birdie could not be matched by Lagergren’s attempted chip for a four and so erupted the kind of local roar that might only be matched at the Ryder Cup this season.
McIlroy said: ‘I thought it would be a nice homecoming with a green jacket but this has exceeded my expectations. I am so happy to play the way I did and get the win. It is incredible.
Rory McIlroy’s impressive recent form continued as he claimed victory at the Irish Open
The 36-year-old secured the win after defeating Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren in a tense play-off
McIlroy still has a lot to look forward to as he prepares for the Ryder Cup later this month
‘Moments like this are what you remember. I think 2025 will go down as one of the best, if not the best, of my career. But there is a lot still coming up, with Wentworth next week and then the Ryder Cup.’
On the subject of the Cup later this month, it must alarm the Americans that not only has Europe’s leading man put distance between himself and his post-Masters blues, but he has now rediscovered his winning touch.
His path to this victory at the K Club was paved by a putter that compensated for loose driving – across the course of his fourth-round 66, taking McIlroy to 17 under par and a place in the play-off, he drained in excess of 160-feet of putts.
It was an astonishing performance on the greens, with strokes disappearing below ground from 38 and 42 foot in the space of the first five holes.
Having started four behind Adrien Saddier’s overnight lead, that one tool was key to the recovery, allied with some good fortune, including a putt that did a full 360-degree lap of the 13th cup before dropping and a ballooned drive at 15 that came with a foot of the water. Luck of the Irish.
