Rasmus Højgaard birdied his final three holes for a 65 to reach 6-under and win the Amgen Irish Open beating Rory McIlroy in his attempt to win his first event on home soil.
“It was a hard watch in the end but I had a number today that I was trying to reach, and that was eight (under),” said the Dane after securing his fifth DP World Tour title.
“Obviously coming in and finishing on nine was gold and I’m so happy. The game’s been trending for a while now and to get this one is massive.
“On 10 I got away with a good lie. Thought I hit a great chip there and maybe would have been five, six feet past, but then there was a flag in the way.
“And on 17 I was a bit worried I could be plugged in the bunker but coming up to an uphill lie in the bunker gave me a little bit more confidence that I could get it up and down. To hole it was key.”
McIlroy started the day with a one shot lead at at Royal County Down but made three bogeys and five birdies then missed out on an eagle putt at 18 that would have forced a playoff. He closed with a 69 to finish second at 8-under.
Italy’s Matteo Manassero closed with a 69 to finish third at 7-under followed in fourth at 6-under by England’s Daniel Brown who eagled the first hole and carded a 66.
Scots Robert MacIntyre and Grant Forrest shot rounds of 70 and 66 respectively to tie for fifth place at 4-under.
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