Let’s wrap up with a snapshot of the newly-crowned Irish Open Champion, Rasmus Højgaard. The contest will make a comeback at the K Club in Co Kildare next year – hang in there, Rory. However, Rory McIlroy, after another heart-breaking endpoint, battled bravely but fell short due to his disappointing Sunday putting performance.
Speaking of our victor, Rasmus Højgaard managed a remarkable 6-under in the closing round making for a Sunday lesson. Though disheartening from the Irish point of view, it’s a commendable and well-earned victory for the young 23-year-old. Rory McIlroy couldn’t deliver the necessary putt, birdy-ing the last hole only to end at 8-under. Consequently, Rasmus Højgaard of Denmark was crowned champion of the 2024 Amgen Irish Open.
Meanwhile, Matteo Manassero birdied the 18th and levelled Rory McIlroy in second place at 7-under, while Dan Brown dropped to fourth. At the 18th, McIlroy’s ball lay slightly over 10 feet from the hole. He had to make that putt to keep pace with Højgaard, who secured 9-under.
In the quest for the green, Rory brings out his 8 iron and lands a beautiful shot, evoking grand applause. However, only a round remains, and an eagle is necessary for McIlroy to grasp the 2024 Irish Open. Unfortunately, another miss with his putter at the 17th green resulted in a settling for 1-over.
Despite an earnest attempt at an eagle on the 18th, Højgaard’s ball veered left of the hole, nevertheless, he manages an uncomplicated birdie putt. He concludes with a final round of 65, taking the lead at 9-under. The ball is in Rory’s court now.
Højgaard amazes with a splendid shot from the rough, stopping just short of the green. It may well give him a shot advantage here, considering it’s a Par-5. Hold your breath… McIlroy gained a shot at the 16th, returning to 8-under and once again sharing the lead with Højgaard.
Højgaard started off the last round, his ball landing in the rough on the right side of the fairway. Subsequently, Højgaard birdies the 17th from the bunker. A thrilling finale indeed!
Making his lead at 8-under, the golfer Rory McIlroy is currently engaged in the 16th round, his score standing at 7-under. After a courageous 181 yards shot on the 15th from the pin, McIlroy found himself with a substantial task ahead. The choice to target the flag didn’t pay off as the incline of the green led his ball downhill. The following chip onto the green left him struggling, so much so that he couldn’t handle a gargantuan putt. Consequently, the shot was dropped, and slipped out of a tie with Rasmus Højgaard, standing at 7-under after Højgaard birdied the 16th.
Dan Brown, one of McIlroy’s competitors from England, pulled off a final round of 66, marking his score at 6-under. He was tantalisingly close to scoring 7-under, but a last undercooked putt derailed his progress. All Brown can do at this stage is wait as he holds a joint second place with Rasmus Højgaard and Matteo Manassero. In the meantime, McIlroy retains a two-shot lead.
Currently playing the 13th, McIlroy thrived in the ‘lucky for some’ term. Landing an impressive shot on the green, his initial putt was a challenge. Overestimating the distance, he sent the ball a foot past the hole, succeeding on the second attempt to secure par yet again.
Three holes are left to be played, and McIlroy remains in the lead. Other Irish participants have returned to the clubhouse. Shane Lowry ended with a round of 68, putting him joint 10th as it currently stands. Seamus Power came perilously close to finishing his Sunday with an eagle on the 18th; however, his putt fell short by a fraction, leaving him at 1-over for the day.
At 3-over, seventeen-year-old Seán Keeling completed his final round for his first Irish Open, ending at an unfortunate 13-over. Tom McKibben has also wrapped up his Irish Open campaign at 2-over.
Back on the course, McIlroy has rounded off the 12th on par, maintaining his two-shot lead over Brown, Manassero, and Højgaard. He birdied the 11th, reaffirming his two-shot lead, standing tall at 8-under.
Greetings everyone! I’m Muireann Duffy, ready to walk you through the tail end of the 2024 Amgen Irish Open happening at Royal County Down. Rory McIlory is in the lead at the moment, seeking his second title at the Irish Open. A victory today would mark his first professional triumph in Northern Ireland. Besides, Shane Lowry finished his final round with 3-under, bringing him to 1-under after four days of the tournament.
McIlory, accompanied by Italy’s Matteo Manassero, was the last one on the greens today, striking off shortly after 1pm. The Holywood golfer was ahead of Manassero by a single shot yesterday. However, by the sixth on Sunday, his lead had expanded to three.
But after losing a shot at the seventh and a solid start to the tenth from England’s Daniel Brown, which saw him climb to second, McIlory’s lead has come down to one. McIlory ended up scoring a par on the ninth after his putt cruelly circled the hole, denying him a birdie.
Dan Brown is currently 15 holes through and is playing exceptionally. The Brit started the day with an eagle on the first hole and is now 5-under for the day. Meanwhile, Rasmus Højgaard has climbed up to third with a spectacular shot from the hill that overlooks the tenth hole. The Danish golfer found the hole right from the rough, putting him only two shots behind the leader.
To summarize – Rory McIlroy has a 7-under lead, followed by Dan Brown’s 6-under, and Rasmus Højgaard and Matteo Manassero tie on the third spot with 5-under.
So, brace yourselves for an exciting climax to this Irish Open! It’s been awhile since his last birdie on the second hole, so the important putt to regain his confidence after a setback at the tenth is well overdue.