Rory McIlroy wins second Irish Open title in thrilling playoff

Rory McIlroy savored “a pretty cool year” after including a second Irish Open title to his Masters win.

The world No. 2 accomplished the profession Grand Slam with April’s triumph at Augusta and added to that by profitable his house open for the second time with an exciting playoff victory over Joakim Lagergren.

McIlroy needed to eagle the 72nd gap simply to take it to a playoff after Lagergren’s personal gorgeous eagle on the sixteenth.

After the primary two additional holes have been tied in birdie fours, Lagergren discovered the water hazard the third time round to permit McIlroy to win it with two putts.

McIlroy, who additionally triumphed on this occasion on the similar venue in 2016, mentioned: “I just feel so lucky that I get to do this in front of these people. The support has been amazing all week. So happy I could play the way I did this week and get the win.

“I had a putt final yr at [Royal County Down] to power a playoff with Rasmus [Højgaard] and it simply missed on the excessive facet, so it felt like [the eagle at the 18th] was just a little little bit of redemption.

“I wanted to be aggressive with it — such a cool feeling, cool moment for that to go in, and that gave me a chance in the playoff.

“It simply felt prefer it was who was going to blink first. Joakim hit a poor second shot in on that playoff gap and that opened the door for me, and I’m simply so comfortable to win my second Irish Open.”

With a Ryder Cup to come at Bethpage later this month, McIlroy said: “To do what I did earlier within the yr after which to return house and win my nationwide Open, it doesn’t matter what occurs for the remainder of the yr, that is a reasonably cool yr — 2025’s going to be among the best, if not the most effective, of my profession.

“But we’re not finished yet, I’ve got a big week next week at Wentworth [the BMW PGA Championship] and then obviously everybody’s looking forward to the Ryder Cup.”

McIlroy and Lagergren had been in a five-way tie for the lead on 14 below when the ultimate group turned for house on Sunday.

Angel Hidalgo, second in a single day after Saturday’s gorgeous 63, completed in a tie for third on 15 below with Rafa Cabrera Bello, who sparked his problem into life with a hole-in-one on the third.

A 3rd Spaniard, Angel Ayora, was fifth alongside third-round chief Adrien Saddier.