Rory McIlroy sensationally claimed his second Amgen Irish Open title when he brilliantly eagled the 72nd hole to force a playoff with Joaqim Lagergren before going on to win with a birdie at the third hole of a tense sudden-death playoff.
Twelve months after finishing second to Denmark’s Rasmus Hojgaard, the Masters champion drained a 28 footer at the last to card a bogey-free 66 and tie with the Swede on 17-under, sparking jubilant scenes among the 13,000-strong gallery.
He went on to birdie the 18th three times in sudden death, taking the title when Lagergren found water with his approach the third time around.
“Look, I just, I feel just so lucky that I get to do this in front of these people,” McIlroy said. “The support has been absolutely amazing all week.
“I thought it was going to be a nice homecoming, obviously, coming home with a green jacket and all that. But this has been absolutely incredible.
“This has exceeded all of my expectations and just so so happy I could play the way I did this week for all of them, and get the win.”
It was sweet redemption for McIlroy after he narrowly failed to birdied the 72nd holes and finished a shot behind Rasmus Hojgaard at Royal County Down last year.
“It’s absolutely incredible. I love coming home. I love playing in this atmosphere,” said the Co. Down star, who won his first Irish Open in equally spectacular fashion at The K. Club in 2016.
“Moments like this, these are the things you’re going to remember well after your career is over, and this is a really special day.”
As for that eagle putt at the 18th in regulation, he said he’d never experienced anything like the reaction of the crowd when it slammed into the back of the hole and dropped.
“I don’t think so,” he said. “You know, I had a putt on the last green last year at RCD to force a play off with Rasmus, and it just missed on the high side.
“So felt like it was a little bit of a redemption. And I hit it, and I wanted to just be aggressive with it.
“Such a cool moment, such a cool feeling for that to go in. And you know, that gave me a chance in the playoff.
“And the playoff the way the 18th was playing today, it just felt it was a case of who was going to blink first.
“Joaquim hit a poor second shot in on that playoff hole and that opened the door for me. I’m just so happy to be able to win my second Irish Open.”
As for the crowd support, he said: “Again, I feel very fortunate, because there’s probably very few golfers and in the world that get the support that I get when I go home.
“Maybe Jon Rahm in Spain, maybe a few others. But this absolutely incredible.
“I don’t take it for granted. You know, I feel very grateful and very lucky that I get to do this, and can’t wait to celebrate tonight.”
