Rory McIlroy made an eagle on the final hole to clinch his first victory of the season at the Irish Open on Sunday before his home fans.
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Bradley Dredge surged through the field with a 66 to secure the biggest pay-day of his career, with Knox returning a 68.
Willett shot a final-round 77 to finish in a tie for 23rd place and 11 shots back.
Knox replaced McIlroy at the top of the leaderboard with a birdie at 15, but the Northern Irishman responded with a third gain of his final round at the next and the Scot was brought back down to earth with a bogey.
But the Ulsterman hit back with a superb birdie on the par-5 16th, his second shot – a 3-wood fired fearlessly onto the small green and over the River Liffey – in effect turning the tournament back in his favour.
Rory McIlroy leads by three shots at the Irish Open but still has three holes of his third round to complete on Sunday.
And McIlroy intends to draw on his second shots into the 16th and the last that helped set up a 10th European Tour success and a 20th win of his professional career heading into the year’s remaining three majors.
“Today was a day to just hang in there and try not to make too many mistakes and that’s what I said I wanted to do today”, the 27-year-old told europeantour.com. I didn’t quite think I’d end up with my three (on the 18th) but I thought I still had a chance so I stayed as patient as I possibly could.
Knox was happy with his performance despite having his challenge ended by the brilliance of McIlroy down the stretch, and he said: “I played brilliant to be honest”.
“I was getting feedback that people around the 16th green were complaining how dark it was getting and then on the 17th tee what with all the trees surrounding the green”, McIlroy said.
“I kept telling everyone including myself that my game was close”, McIlroy told Golf Channel.
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“I knew that I had to do something. Maybe those last three holes is the catalyst for another great summer with three majors and everything else we have to play for with the Olympics and the Ryder Cup”. “It’s very frustrating and I’m actually putting incredibly to still be in this tournament”. “You just need something like that to click and I feel like you’re off and running”.
