Rasmus Højgaard Sinks Three Closing Birdies to Topple Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy’s quest for victory encountered yet another setback on Sunday at the Irish Open held at Royal County Down. Although McIlroy had maintained his lead throughout the tournament, he was ultimately surpassed by Rasmus Højgaard. The young Danish golfer achieved a remarkable final stretch, birdying four of the last five holes, including three in a row. His winning shot came from a spectacular bunker hole-out on the 17th.

McIlroy, playing in the final pairing in front of his home crowd, did manage to birdie two of his last three holes. However, a critical three-putt bogey on the 17th cost him dearly. Attempting a 27-foot birdie putt, he inadvertently ran it beyond the hole and failed to convert his comeback for par. With a chance to force a playoff on the 18th, McIlroy missed an eagle opportunity, narrowly grazing the right edge of the hole.

McIlroy concluded the day with a 2-under 69, finishing at eight under par. In contrast, Højgaard’s impressive 6-under 65 elevated him to nine under, granting him a one-shot victory.

This latest setback has become all too familiar for McIlroy this season, as he has experienced several disappointments in crucial moments throughout various tournaments.

“It is [the tough part of being a sports person],” McIlroy reflected. “Unfortunately, I’m getting used to it this year. Hopefully, the tide is going to turn soon, and I can convert all these near-misses into wins.”

For Højgaard, who has a twin brother, Nicolai, who played in last year’s Ryder Cup, this victory marks his first of the year and potentially the biggest of his young career.

“Yeah, it’s a big confidence boost,” Højgaard expressed after his win. “I knew it would be tough to compete with Rory and the rest of the field. Seeing him make a bogey at 17 changed everything. But it stayed tight right down to the last putt. It’s a great boost for me for the rest of the year.”

McIlroy was clearly disheartened not to have claimed the title at his home open once again. A win would have marked a significant milestone, being his first victory in Northern Ireland amidst the heightened expectations he often faces there. Nonetheless, the week overall was positive for McIlroy, particularly following a tough experience at the 2024 U.S. Open where he lost to Bryson DeChambeau by one shot.

“That roar when I hit that second shot on 18 was pretty cool,” he said, reflecting on the excitement of the crowd as he sought an eagle on the final hole.

“The support I received this week was absolutely incredible. I had a wonderful time being back home; it has been too long. I need to return here more often. Given where my game was at the start of the week, this is certainly a step in the right direction. If anything, it’s made me even more eager for Portrush next year.”

McIlroy was alluding to the 2025 Open Championship, set to be hosted at Royal Portrush, where he had a disappointing performance in the 2019 edition, missing the cut.

Looking ahead, McIlroy plans to participate in several more events on the DP World Tour in 2024, including the DP World Tour Championship finale. He aims to secure his sixth Race to Dubai title. Currently, he enjoys a significant lead in the standings, having nearly doubled the score of the player in second place—who happens to be Rasmus Højgaard.