Rory McIlroy beat Joakim Lagergren in a play-off to win the 2025 Amgen Irish Open after a thrilling finish at The K Club.
The Swede emerged from a five-way tie for the lead on Sunday's back nine at The K Club with a superb round of 66 and looked to have struck the decisive blow with a magnificent 266-yard approach to five feet to set up an eagle at the 16th.
McIlroy, though, responded with a 28-foot putt to eagle the last and extend the tournament to a 73rd hole, where both players went close to eagles before tidying up for matching birdies.
McIlroy's approach next time round only just cleared the water but it was the same result. At the third time of asking Lagergren found the water hazard, allowing McIlroy to win it with two putts and emulate his 2016 victory at the same venue.
He said: "I just feel so lucky that I get to do this in front of these people, the support has been amazing all week. So happy I could play the way I did this week and get the win.
"I had a putt last year at (Royal County Down) to force a play-off with Rasmus (Højgaard) and it just missed on the high side, so it felt like it was a little bit of redemption.
"I wanted to be aggressive with it - such a cool feeling, cool moment for that to go in, and that gave me a chance in the play-off.
"It just felt like it was who was going to blink first. Joakim hit a poor second shot in on that play-off hole and that opened the door for me, and I'm just so happy to win my second Irish Open."
The win was another highlight in McIlroy's season after his Masters triumph in April which completed a career Grand Slam.
He said: "To do what I did earlier in the year and then to come home and win my national Open, no matter what happens for the rest of the year, that's a pretty cool year - 2025's going to be one of the best, if not the best, of my career.
"But we're not finished yet, I've got a big week next week at Wentworth and then obviously everybody's looking forward to the Ryder Cup."
Lagergren said: "This is a tough one to swallow. I really thought I had that out there today.
"Obviously posting minus-17 going into the clubhouse, could well have been enough. Played really good in the playoff as well. Hit a solid five-iron down on the last play but it got a horrendous bounce. It's a metre from being dead to the hole, so it's tough."
Spanish players filled the remainder of the top five, with a hole in one helping Rafa Cabrera Bello join Saturday's star Angel Hidalgo in 3rd while Angel Ayora was 5th on his own.
europeantour.com
Bryan Angus (edit)
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