A Dane has gained the Irish Open at Royal County Down for the second straight time.
9 years after Søren Kjeldsen defeated Bernd Wiesberger and Eddie Pepperell in a playoff, Rasmus Højgaard made six birdies on the again 9 to race previous Rory McIlroy and steal his nationwide open away from him.
Højgaard posted a 6-under 65, thus ending at 9-under for the championship, one shot away from the 54-hole chief McIlroy, who shot a 69.
“It’s at all times exhausting to place into phrases the way it all shapes up in direction of the top,” Højgaard mentioned after.
“I used to be attempting to deal with myself and never let all of the feelings take over. It’s really easy to begin pondering forward, and I managed to remain current. It’s at all times a cliché however I managed to do this in the present day. I feel that’s actually helped me to make these birdies coming in.”
The Dane made birdies on the sixteenth, seventeenth, and 18th holes to scoot previous McIlroy, who had a U.S. Open-like collapse on the ultimate 4 holes at Royal County Down. McIlroy bogied the fifteenth after which three-putted the seventeenth inexperienced, in the end costing him. But, the Northern Irishman gave himself an opportunity on the par-5 18th, the place he discovered the inexperienced in two. He had a 10-foot eagle putt that may have tied Højgaard and compelled a playoff, nevertheless it simply held on the excessive facet, thus giving the Dane the victory.
“It’s an enormous confidence enhance. I knew it was going to be exhausting to battle with him and the remainder of the blokes on the market,” Højgaard added.
“Clearly, seeing [McIlroy] make a bogey there on 17 modified all the pieces. However once more, it was tight all the way in which all the way down to the final putt. So yeah, it’s an important enhance for me for the remainder of the 12 months.”
His win at Royal County Down provides him his fifth profession victory on the DP World Tour as he eyes a spot on subsequent 12 months’s Ryder Cup workforce at Bethpage Black. He has the expertise to take action, and his great quick sport might come in useful for the Europeans. In spite of everything, two of Højgaard’s six birdies on the again 9 have been chip-ins, which got here up huge ultimately.
“I stayed affected person on the market. Was solely 1-under after 9. I knew I needed to discover some gold on the again 9. Received away with a chip-in on 10, and it form of elevated my sport just a little,” Højgaard mentioned.
“Then, 17, it was a poor second shot. Bit nervous that it may need been plugged into the bunker. However I used to be clearly very joyful that I noticed it was a superb lie. It gave me a little bit of confidence that I might get it up and down, after which to gap it was clearly a key second for the result.”
Højgaard has been trending in the suitable course, as this win vaults him as much as second within the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai standings. His purpose initially of this season was to safe a PGA Tour card for 2025, identical to his brother Nicolai did a 12 months in the past. He appears destined to do this. The highest 10 finishers on the DP World Tour earn spots on the PGA Tour for the next season.
Two weeks in the past, he completed solo third on the Betfred British Masters. Then, final week, Højgaard tied for seventeenth on the Omega European Masters. However nothing compares to this victory, as he not solely conquered one of many world’s finest golf programs in Royal County Down however fended off one of many world’s finest gamers within the course of. Now, he has just about all however secured a spot on the PGA Tour with this win.
“I used to be shaking on the market the previous few holes,” Højgaard admitted.
“I clearly knew that Rory was going to be there as a result of he’s obtained all of the help on his again there. Yeah, it was nerve-wracking happening the previous few holes, understanding that he was proper behind me.”
However these nerves shortly became a wonderful celebration. Not solely does Højgaard get to bask within the glory of successful at Royal County Down, however he’s probably headed to the PGA Tour, a career-defining second that can enhance his confidence much more. Certainly, this is not going to be the final time Højgaard wins an enormous match. It’s probably only the start.
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By way of. Remember to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You’ll be able to comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as effectively.
