McIlroy had seen his three-shot lead become a one-shot deficit with three holes to play as Scotland’s Russell Knox carded four birdies and an eagle in a final round interrupted twice by hailstorms and torrential rain. That’s when McIlroy stepped up and reminded everyone of his greatness.
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I don’t really get emotional when I win, but I was holding back the tears there. The foundation, which supports children’s charities around the world, raised over €1 million during the Irish Open, helped by McIlroy’s win and generous gesture of donating the entirety of his winner’s cheque to the cause. “Whether I get to show that could depend on the conditions, but I just feel like there’s something waiting there to click and when it does, I could be off and running and that could be the catapult or the momentum that I need to have another great summer”.
“I’ve got two par fives in the last three holes to try and get another couple birdies and go into the final round with a nice lead”.
McIlroy apart, it hasn’t been a good day for the rest of the Irish challengers with Kevin Phelan, Gary Hurley, Graeme McDowell, Gavin Moynihan, Paul Dunne and Paul McGinley all well over-par. McIlroy just missed out on a birdie at the 17th. and remained a shot to the good.
Knox, who had to borrow a driver over the last three days after cracking the face of the one he had used to win past year in Shanghai, was full of praise for McIlroy.
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.
“But in terms of shots under pressure when I needed to pull something off like that, the two are right up there with the best I’ve hit”.
He played like a champion today..
The 27-year-old added a second round of 70 to his opening 67, leaving him a shot off the lead overnight which was shared by Danny Willett and Marc Warren.
“I kept telling everyone, including myself, that my game was close”, McIlroy said.
McIlroy is one of Ireland’s biggest hopes of a medal in the Olympics this year – and on today’s form his position among the favourites is more than justified.
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STRAFFAN, Ireland (AP) – Rory McIlroy eagled the final hole to clinch his first victory of the season Sunday at the Irish Open, his home tournament where he’s famously struggled over the years.
