Rory McIlroy won his second Amgen Irish Open title after a play-off with Joakim Lagergren at the Palmer North Course, the K Club, on Sunday evening.
The Irish golfer birdied the third extra hole to delight the home crowds and claim his first victory on European soil since becoming Europe’s first player to complete the career grand slam at the Masters in April.
Eagle Putt Forces Play-Off
Five-time Major winner McIlroy holed a 28-foot eagle putt on his 72nd hole to finish on 17 under par alongside Lagergren and force a play-off in the third of the DP World Tour’s Back 9 tournaments.
Both players went close to eagles at the first time of asking before tidying up for matching birdies in the $6 million event.
McIlroy’s approach on the second extra hole only just cleared the water. Both players achieved the same result as they both claimed a birdie four.
At the third extra hole, Lagergren found the water hazard, allowing McIlroy to win it with two putts and emulate his 2016 Amgen Irish Open victory at the Co Kildare venue.
Delight for McIlroy
McIlroy was full of praise for the home supporters, admitting:
“I feel just so lucky that I get to do this, I get to do this in front of these people. The support has been absolutely amazing all week.
“I thought it was going to be a nice homecoming, obviously coming home with the Green Jacket and all that, but this has been absolutely incredible. This has exceeded all of my expectations. Just so, so happy I could play the way I did this week for all of them and get the win.”
The Co Down golfer continued:
“Hopefully we get a bit of it in a few weeks’ time at the Ryder Cup. But this is absolutely incredible. I love coming home. I love playing in this atmosphere. Moments like this, these are the things you’re going to remember well after your career is over. This is a really special day.
“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 of my career.
“I’ve got a big week next week at Wentworth and then obviously everyone’s looking forward to the Ryder Cup. I’m just so happy my game’s in good shape. I feel like I’m playing well and I’m so excited for what’s coming up.”
Final round 66 for Lagergren
Joakim Lagergren emerged from a five-way tie for the lead on Sunday’s back nine at The K Club with a superb round of 66 to finish runner-up in Straffan.
Spaniard Rafa Cabrera Bello made a hole-in-one at the par-three third as he joined countryman Angel Hidalgo in a share of third on 15 under par, while another Spaniard Angel Ayora was two shots further back in fifth alongside overnight leader Adrian Saddier.
McIlroy bogeyed the first, his first dropped shot in 38 holes, but bounced back with a 38-foot putt for birdie at the second and saved par with a good up-and-down at the next.
The now 20-time DP World Tour winner birdied the fourth and then holed from 43 feet at the fifth to move two under for the day and 13 under for the week. He birdied the ninth to join a five-way tie on 14 under as he made the turn.
McIlroy holed a steely par-saver at the 12th and to the delight of the home crowd, before his six-foot putt at the 13th made a full circuit of the hole to drop back in the front edge.
Cabrera Bello joined him at the top with a birdie at the par-five 16th as Hidalgo dropped a shot at the 14th and Ayora set a clubhouse target of 13 under after a 67.
Lagergren eagle on 16th
Lagergren made a spectacular eagle at the 16th to go 16 under as Cabrera Bello’s 67 lowered the clubhouse lead to 15 under and Hidalgo, with a birdie at the 16th, and McIlroy, who parred the 17th, were also on that mark.
Lagergren’s birdie at the last left McIlroy needing an eagle to force a play-off – and after two blows onto the green, he delivered exactly what was required.
