Devastation for Rory McIlroy as Rasmus Højgaard Stuns with Irish Open Victory at the Death
Devastation for Rory McIlroy as Rasmus Højgaard Stuns with Irish Open Victory at the Death
Royal County Down – September 15, 2024
Rasmus Højgaard pulled off a stunning finish to snatch the 2024 Amgen Irish Open title from Rory McIlroy, leaving the hometown favorite and the thousands in attendance heartbroken. The Danish star birdied the final three holes, including a spectacular hole-out from a bunker on the 17th, to win by a single shot and deny McIlroy his long-awaited victory on home soil.
McIlroy had appeared on course to finally claim his first professional win in Northern Ireland, leading by two shots with four holes to play at Royal County Down. The course, located just an hour from where McIlroy grew up, seemed set to be the stage for his triumph. However, Højgaard’s stunning back-nine 65, featuring four birdies in the last five holes, turned the tide in dramatic fashion.
McIlroy, who has suffered several near misses this season, including a heartbreaking defeat at the U.S. Open, took a one-shot lead into the final round. He looked strong early on, birdieing the first two holes while his playing partner Matteo Manassero dropped shots on the third and fourth, extending McIlroy’s lead to four shots at one point. A bogey on the seventh and missed birdie opportunities on the eighth and ninth allowed Højgaard to remain in contention, though.
The Dane’s challenge gained momentum with a spectacular chip-in for birdie on the 10th, and when McIlroy bogeyed the 15th, his two-shot lead vanished as Højgaard birdied the 16th. The drama intensified on the 17th, where Højgaard holed out from a greenside bunker to make his third consecutive birdie, while McIlroy missed a crucial par putt on the same hole after charging his birdie attempt well past the hole.
By the time Højgaard birdied the 18th for his fourth birdie in five holes, McIlroy needed to make an eagle to force a playoff. His towering approach from 191 yards set up a 15-foot eagle opportunity, but the putt slid agonizingly wide, leaving the crowd stunned and McIlroy once again denied victory in his home country.
Højgaard’s triumph marked another chapter in his rapid rise in professional golf, while McIlroy is left to reflect on another narrow defeat in a season filled with close calls.
“I felt like I had it today, but Rasmus played an unbelievable back-nine. It’s tough to take, but credit to him for the way he finished,” McIlroy said afterward. “It’s not the way I wanted this to end, but I’ll keep pushing.”
For Højgaard, this win solidifies his place among Europe’s rising stars, and for McIlroy, the wait for that elusive Northern Irish victory continues.