Rory McIlroy shows true colours after heartbreaking Irish Open near miss
Rory McIlroy was cruising towards victory at the Irish Open until two costly errors - and a sensational late surge by Rasmus Hojgaard - continued the Northern Irishman's season of pain
Rory McIlroy says he will "try to take the positives" after suffering another cruel near miss on Sunday as Rasmus Hojgaard snatched victory at the Irish Open.
World No. 3 McIlroy was on course to win on home soil at Royal County Down, holding a two-shot lead down the stretch, but he was made to pay for sloppy bogeys at 15 and 17 respectively. It would have been McIlroy's first win since his heartbreak at the US Open in June when he lost in similar circumstances.
Hojgaard was simply sensational on the back nine in Northern Ireland, holing out from off the green twice to get in the clubhouse at nine-under-par and claim his fifth DP World title – putting him on course to earn PGA Tour membership for next season.
McIlroy fought gamely to the end and missed out on a closing eagle to force a playoff by a matter of millimetres as his putt on 18 drifted agonisingly past the cup. But the Ulsterman knew he only had himself to blame for letting a victory in his homeland slip through his grasp.
The 35-year-old's attention turns to Wentworth on Thursday for the BMW PGA Championship, as he vies to finish 2024 on a high note after a deeply frustrating season. McIlroy has won three times, but it could have been so much better had his chances at the US Open, Olympics and Irish Open not passed him by on the closing holes.
"I felt like I was in control of the tournament for most of the day," McIlroy said. "Felt like I was playing really solid, doing what I needed to do, making a lot of pars, making the odd birdie. Then obviously the two bogeys on 15 and 17 opened the door for someone to have a good finish like what Rasmus did there on the last few holes.
"I played well this week, [but] missing the green right on 15 was the place that you can't go. And just misjudged the speed with the first putt on 17. 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 was supported by a partisan home crowd throughout the week and he paid tribute to his fans who backed him to the end.
"I'm very lucky. I get so much support when I come back," he added. "I certainly don't take it for granted. I sort of had to try to keep my composure walking up to the 18th green there.
"I did that as best as I could, but yeah, wish I could play in front of those fans and this atmosphere every week; it isn't quite like that [elsewhere]. Personally appreciate all the support and I can't wait to come back. Hopefully the tide is going to turn pretty soon, and I can turn all these close calls into victories".
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