Rory McIlroy admitted he’s “getting used” to near-misses and has set his sights on BMW PGA Championship victory after falling quick in his bid for a fairytale dwelling win on the Amgen Irish Open.
McIlroy took a one-shot lead into the ultimate day at Royal County Down and briefly held a four-stroke benefit as he seemed for his first victory in Northern Eire as an expert, solely to see his hopes unravel late within the spherical.
The world No 3 blended two birdies with two bogeys over the closing holes and was unable to discover a final-hole eagle to drive a play-off in opposition to Rasmus Hojgaard, who birdied for the final 5 holes to grab a dramatic one-shot victory.
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Rasmus Hojgaard completed the ultimate day of the Irish Open in fashion, with birdies on the sixteenth, seventeenth and 18th gap to set the successful whole
“Felt like I was in control of the tournament for most of the day,” McIlroy mentioned after his runner-up end. “Felt like I was playing really solid, doing what I needed to do, making a lot of pars, making the odd birdie.
“Then clearly the 2 bogeys on 15 and 17 opened the door for somebody to have end like what Rasmus did there on the previous few holes. Lacking the inexperienced proper on 15 was the place that you would be able to’t go and simply misjudged the velocity with the primary putt on 17.”
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After three-putting on the seventeenth gap on the Irish Open, Rory McIlroy wanted an eagle on the ultimate gap to drive a play-off and got here so near getting it
“Overall, yeah, obviously really disappointed that I didn’t win but I’ll try to take the positives and move on next week to Wentworth.”
McIlroy’s end is the second time in three months that he has squandered a two-shot lead over the closing holes of a match, having additionally missed out on a primary main since 2014 when he bogeyed three of the final 4 holes on the US Open in June.
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Highlights from an exciting last spherical of the US Open at Pinehurst No 2, the place Bryson DeChambeau snatched victory forward of Rory McIlroy
“Unfortunately I’m getting used to it this year,” McIlroy mentioned about his newest runner-up end. “Hopefully the tide is going to turn pretty soon, and I can turn all these close calls into victories.
“The assist I acquired on the market this week was completely wonderful. I’ve had a good time being dwelling. From the place I used to be at first of the week and what I needed to do, it is a step in the precise route. You already know, if something, it simply whets my urge for food much more for Portrush [The Open at Royal Portrush] subsequent yr.”
What went flawed for McIlroy?
McIlroy received the Hero Dubai Desert Basic earlier within the yr and loved back-to-back PGA Tour successes within the spring on the Zurich Basic of New Orleans and the Wells Fargo Championship, whereas former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley believes he shall be pissed off to not add to his tally on dwelling soil.
“Rory will be kicking himself that things turned against him at the wrong time,” McGinley informed Sky Sports activities. “Two bogeys within the final 4 holes goes to harm, though he made the birdies on the sixteenth and 18th.
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“He had the initiative around the turn with a two-shot lead but wasn’t able to extend it, like he did against Xander Schauffele at the Wells Fargo Championship, and run off into the distance. He wasn’t able to separate himself.
“That again 9, with two par-fives the place you might get on in two and a driveable par-four, guys had been coming and making birdies. McIlroy wasn’t in a position to get into that sixth gear that he has, transfer off and create a little bit of daylight and the opposite guys had been hanging round.
“I do not suppose he threw it away in the way in which that he did on the US Open. He definitely bounced again from the errors that he made with birdies on the sixteenth and 18th. I do know the end was totally different and the golf course was totally different, however it’s one which slipped by his fingers.
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Sky Sports activities’ Wayne Riley and Dame Laura Davies analyse Rory McIlroy’s late collapse on the US Open and assess his capability to bounce again
“He didn’t lose it in those last four holes, in my opinion, he lost it around the turn when he should have got further ahead and separated himself and got away from a potential hot finish like what we saw from Hojgaard.
“I can not say properly carried out sufficient to Hojgaard. It was unbelievable the way it switched as shortly because it did within the final hour of play. It is an ideal storyline as a lot it’s for McIlroy not successful in Northern Eire.”
The DP World Tour heads to Wentworth next for the BMW PGA Championship, where McIlroy features and Ryan Fox is defending champion. Watch Featured Groups live on Thursday from 8.30am on Sky Sports Golf ahead of full coverage from midday. Stream the DP World Tour, PGA Tour and extra with NOW.
