Rasmus Højgaard holed out twice as he pipped local favourite Rory McIlroy to win the Irish Open at Royal County Down.
McIlroy looked on course to claim his first professional win on home soil when he led by two shots with four holes to play at a venue just an hour from where he grew up.
However Højgaard had other ideas, as he completed a superb closing 65 with four birdies in the last five holes.
McIlroy had taken a one-shot lead into the final round and made the ideal start with birdies on the first and second. With playing partner Matteo Manassero then dropping shots on the third and fourth, McIlroy briefly enjoyed a four-shot lead before making a bogey on the seventh after failing to get up and down from left of the green.
He then missed from inside ten feet for birdie on both the eighth and the ninth as Højgaard kickstarted his challenge with an outrageous chip-in for birdie on the tenth.
A birdie on the 11th edged McIlroy two in front again, but that advantage was wiped 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, although McIlroy drew level with a birdie on 16, the four-time Major winner charged his birdie putt on 17 past the hole and missed the return.
Højgaard’s third birdie in a row on 18 meant McIlroy needed to make an eagle on the same hole to force a play-off and a towering approach from 191 yards gave him a chance from 15 feet, only for the eagle putt to slide just wide.
Højgaard, for whom this was a fifth European title, said: “It’s massive. It’s one of those tournaments that you want to put your name on, so it’s awesome.
“I was trying to get to 8-under and then see if that was going to have a chance. I stayed patient out there, but I knew I had to find some gold on the back nine. I got away with a chip-in on 10, and it sort of elevated my game a little.
” Again, 17, it was a poor second shot and I was a bit worried that it might have been plugged in the bunker. But I was lucky to get a good lie and I was pretty confident that I could get it up-and-down, so then to hole it was obviously a key moment.
“The timing of the win is perfect. I’ve set a couple goals that I want to achieve, and one of them was getting a PGA Tour card this year, and the other one is Ryder Cup next year. It’s nice to get a step closer to both.
TAKING THE POSITIVES
McIlroy, who missed the chance of winning his second Irish Open, said: ” I felt like I was in control of the tournament for most of the day. I was playing really solid, doing what I needed to do, making a lot of pars, making the odd birdie. Then the two bogeys on 15 and 17 opened the door for someone to have a good finish like Rasmus did there on the last few holes.”
“I played well this week, but missing the green right on 15 was the place that you can’t go. And I just misjudged the speed with the first putt on 17. I’m obviously really disappointed that I didn’t win, but I’ll try to take the positives and move on next week to Wentworth.”
That roar from the crowd when I hit that second shot on 18 was pretty cool. I’ve had a great time being home. It’s been too long. I need to keep coming back more often, but it certainly whets my appetite even more for Portrush next year.”
