There’s nobody in golf—and maybe even in sports—who can keep fans on the edge of their seats like Rory McIlroy. 

Starting the final round of the Irish Open four back of the lead, McIlroy slowly began to work his way up the leaderboard and went to the closing par-5 18th needing an eagle to force a playoff. 

Of course, mayhem ensued. 

In front of a raucous crowd at the K Club, the 36-year-old Northern Irishman holed a 25-footer to send the tournament to extra holes. And after three more trips up and down the 18th hole against Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren, who is ranked No. 194 in the world, McIlroy made a birdie to emerge victorious for the first time since the Masters. 

 “I feel so lucky I get to do this, in front of these people,” McIlroy said afterward on the 18th green.  “The support has been amazing all week. I thought it was a nice homecoming. This has been incredible; it has exceeded all my expectations.

“I love coming home, I love playing in this atmosphere."

On the first playoff hole, which was played on the par-5 18th, both made birdie, sending McIlroy and Lagergren back to the tee box. Both found the fairway again, but McIlroy chunked his approach to 53 feet, while Lagergren’s was about 20 feet from the cup. Both ran their eagle attempts a few feet past the hole and made birdie. 

Third time would be a charm, right? 

For McIlroy, indeed. Again playing No. 18, Lagergren found the fairway as McIlroy pushed his drive into the rough. Still, both were about 200 yards from the hole, but Lagergren pulled his approach left into the water adjacent to the green. That took the pressure off McIlroy, who safely hit his approach to the wide part of the green and lagged a long eagle putt to a few inches from the cup. After Lagergren failed to hole his chip shot from off the green, McIlroy's victory was secure. 

In the hours leading up to the playoff, McIlroy had a series of breaks that eventually put him in the winner’s circle. He holed a 10-footer for birdie on No. 9, then a 6-foot birdie putt on No. 13 that did a 360 around the cup before dropping. He also sliced tee shot on the par-5 16th that barely stayed dry. 

As for Lagergren, the 33-year-old was looking for his first DP World Tour win since the 2018 Rocco Forte Sicilian Open. However, it wasn't meant to be. 

“This is a tough one to swallow,” he said. “I really thought I had that out there today. Obviously, posting minus 17 going into the clubhouse, could might as well been enough. Played really good in the playoff as well. Hit a solid 5-iron down on the last play, but it got a horrendous bounce. It’s a metre from being dead to the hole. So it’s tough.”

McIlroy, after completing the career Grand Slam earlier this year, admitted he was searching for motivation again. He didn’t need that this week in Ireland, though. He wanted to give the home fans what they yearned to see.

And after the five-time major champion buried the final putt, fans broke out an  “ole, ole, ole” chant. 

McIlroy hopes it’s not the last time this year he hears a similar celebration. 

“Hopefully, we get a bit in a few weeks time at the Ryder Cup,” McIlroy said. “It’s absolutely incredible. Moments like this, these are things you’re going to remember after your career is over. This is a very special day.”

More Golf Coverage on Sports Illustrated


This article was originally published on www.si.com as Rory McIlroy Rallies to Win Irish Open in Dramatic Playoff.