Rasmus Hojgaard admitted he struggled to watch in the closing stages after beating Rory McIlroy to the Irish Open title. The Dane shot a sublime final round 65, including two chips ins on the back nine, to edge out the home hero by a single shot.
Hojgaard’s jubilation was in stark contrast to McIlroy again suffering tournament heartbreak, following the meltdown that cost him the US Open in June.
The 35-year-old begun the day with a one shot lead over Italian Matteo Manassero, and three clear of Hojgaard.
And victory looked on the cards when he birdied the opening two holes to open up a four shot advantage. However, as Hojgaard surged, the leader missed simple birdie putts at the eighth and ninth which derailed his momentum.
In a finish that then brought back harrowing memories of his faltering finish at Pinehurst, he bogeyed the 15th and 17th, and was left needing an eagle on the last to have any hope of forcing a play-off. But he could only make birdie to finish -8, one off the eventual winner.
And McIlroy appeared disconsolate as the crowd offered polite applause. Hojgaard meanwhile, struggled to speak about his remarkable fightback win, telling Sky Sports: “I don’t know how to sum it up.
“It was a hard watch in the end but I had a number I tried to reach today, which was eight. So coming in on -9 was gold. I am so happy. To get this one is massive.
“There were pivotal moments for me today. The chip ins were massive. This couldn’t come at a better time. There are some great events at this part of the season. I am a step closer to my goal and I can’ wait to see what rest of season brings.”
McIlroy meanwhile, was candid about the late mistakes that denied him a second Irish Open title, having won at the K Club in 2016. “I felt like I was in control of the tournament for most of the day,” he said.
“Then obviously the two bogeys on 15 and 17 opened the door for someone to have a good finish like what Rasmus did on the last few holes. Missing the green right on 15 is the place you can’t go and then I just misjudged the pace with the first putt on 17.”
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