Rory McIlroy won the Irish Open for the second time on Sunday, after getting the better of Joakim Lagergren in a playoff at The K Club.
McIlroy shot a final round 66 to finish the Irish Open at 17-under par, after making a 35-foot putt for eagle on his final hole of regulation play.
The Northern Irishman’s game is clearly in fine fettle and that’s great news for Europe, with the Ryder Cup just around the corner.
He has already stoked the fire by insisting that Europe will win the Ryder Cup at Bethpage and if his form this week is anything to go by, he may well be right.
McIlroy felt like his 68 on day three of the Irish Open was the worst that he could have shot given how well he played.
And he got his rewards on Sunday with a superb round of 66.
McIlroy received huge support from the Irish Open crowds all week long.
He is obviously an extremely popular figure in Ireland, and the support he received drove him on all week long at The K Club.
Rory McIlroy speaks for the first time after winning the Irish Open
McIlroy spoke to Sky Sports reporters immediately after he beat Lagergren in a play-off with a birdie on the 18th.
The Northern Irishman was asked to give his thoughts on his success at the K Club.
McIlroy responded by saying: “I feel just so lucky that I get to do this. I get to do this in front of these people. The support has been amazing all week.
“I thought it was going to be a nice homecoming, coming home with the green jacket. But this has been incredible. It has exceeded all my expectations. So happy I can play the way I did this week for all of them and get the win.“
It was then put to him that he didn’t even get this kind of support after he won The Masters at Augusta National in April.
He said: “I didn’t! But hopefully I will be getting a bit of this in a few weeks time at the Ryder Cup. This is incredible. I love coming home and playing in this atmosphere. Moments like this are the moments you are going to remember years after your career is over. This is a really special day.“
McIlroy was asked whether he has ever experienced a moment in his career like the one on the 18th on Sunday when he rolled in his putt for eagle.
The man from Northern Ireland said: “I don’t think so. I had a putt on the last green last year to force a playoff with Rasmus and just missed on the high side. I felt like it was a little bit of redemption. I hit it and wanted to be aggressive with it, it was such a cool moment and feeling for that to go in.
“The playoff, the way the 18th was playing today it was a case of who was going to blink first. He hit a poor second shot in and that opened the door for me. Just so happy to win my second Irish Open.“
McIlroy explained how fortunate he felt to see so many fans cheering for him during the tournament.
He said: “I feel very fortunate because there are very few golfers in the world that get the support I get when I go home. Maybe Jon Rahm in Spain, there is maybe a few others, but this is absolutely incredible. I don’t take it for granted, I feel very grateful and lucky I get to do this and can’t wait to do this tonight.“
Rory McIlroy delivers verdict on 2025 after Irish Open win ahead of the Ryder Cup
McIlroy in this kind of form will be a huge asset for Team Europe at Bethpage Black later on this month.
After walking off the final hole of the playoff at The K Club, he shared how he feels about the 2025 season as a whole, after winning his national open for the second time.
He said: “To do what I did earlier in the year and 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 is going to go down as one of the best, if not the best of my career but we are not finished yet. Have a big week next week at Wentworth and then everyone is looking forward to the Ryder Cup.
“My game is in good shape, I feel like I am playing well, and that excites me for what is coming up.“
Luke Donald will be delighted with McIlroy’s Irish Open win this week, with the Ryder Cup now less than three weeks away.
The 36-year-old will have confidence flowing through his veins now as well. Talk about perfect timing.
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