Rory McIlroy, the Northern Irish golfer, has lately received a series of blows. Unanticipated challenges are continuously thrown at him. A recent example was during the Amgen Irish Open’s conclusive round at the famous Royal County Down link terrain. The Co Down local seemed set to secure his much-coveted title, only to lose it due to a late setback – a three-putt bogey on the 17th – and some remarkable play from Rasmus Højgaard of Denmark.
This golf season has been particularly tough on McIlroy, with him shouldering more than the usual number of beatings. He suffered setbacks at the Pinehurst US Open and the Paris Olympics, among others. However, he never fails to bounce back, which probably reminds him of Chumbawamba’s song – “I get knocked down, but I get up again.” But these setbacks are becoming increasingly difficult to brush off.
On a stunning sunny autumn day, amidst numerous fans who at times ignored the security measures to get onto the links, McIlroy finished the final round with a score of eight-under-par 276, including a 69 finish in the last round. Unfortunately, this was a shot more than needed, allowing Højgaard, who impressively recorded two chip-in birdies within a brilliant 65, to notch up his fifth career victory in the DP World Tour.
McIlroy was understandably frustrated by yet another close call in a challenging year, despite getting three victories so far – in Dubai, New Orleans, and Charlotte. However, these aren’t the titles he truly covets. The lost opportunity was difficult for McIlroy to accept and let go of. Nevertheless, he hopes the string of close misses will soon transform into victories.
In the 15th round, Rory McIlroy fell behind his opponent, Hojgaard, after hitting a bogey, and this was followed by a double bogey on the 17th round, placing two shots behind Hojgaard as he made his way to the 18th tee. In a daring move, he opted to utilise his driver, which brought three sand traps on the fairway into action. It was here that he hit a splendid tee shot and then used a 7-iron to strike from 191 yards, positioning the ball 10 feet from the goal, setting up an eagle putt. It would have sent the game into a sudden death scenario, but unfortunately, McIlroy’s eagle putt narrowly missed the hole. With a look of disbelief, he reflected on his run of bad luck.
Fragmented by the disappointments of the week, McIlroy mentioned that while he didn’t secure a win, it was vital to focus on the positive aspects and look forward to the upcoming BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. He was overwhelmed by the immense support from the fans throughout the week and felt rejuvenated by his stay at home. McIlroy articulated a keen desire to return more frequently and felt particularly excited about next year’s Portrush event, referring to The Open’s comeback on the Causeway Coast.
He made it clear how grateful he is for the support he receives, a feeling he doesn’t overlook. He forced himself to maintain his poise as he approached the 18th green. He shared his wish to illicit such a vibrant reaction from fans every week and expressed his anticipation to return.
Despite the sorrow of defeat, McIlroy did not hesitate to appreciate Højgaard’s victory, privately sharing words of congratulations and showing sportsmanship by embracing the worthy winner.
Højgaard, a mere two pairings preceding McIlroy, decided to remain in the recorder’s area to follow the action on the TV screen. Upon witnessing McIlroy’s eagle putt misstep, Højgaard’s emotion overcame him, resulting in a physical reaction of head-in-hands. This fifth triumph in his career, which happened at the young age of 23, came with a €920,000 financial reward. This elevated him to the second position behind McIlroy in the Race to Dubai leaderboard and earned him a guaranteed PGA Tour card for the 2025 season, where his brother Nicolai is already a competitor.
“That final span was a tough watch, nonetheless, I had set my sights on the number eight. To my pleasant surprise, I managed to finish with nine. That’s a splendid win. I’m delighted. There’s been a positive trend in my game for quite some time now and clinching this one is of immense importance,” Højgaard commented.
By winning the Irish Open, he joins the ranks of a select group of Danish victors. This group consists of Søren Kjeldsen, who also clinched victory at Royal County Down in 2015, Thomas Bjørn in 2006, and Soren Hansen in 2002.