Rory McIlroy challenge ends in the water as Vincent Norrman wins Irish Open
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Published 10/09/2023 at 20:20 GMT
On a day interrupted by rain, it was somewhat appropriate that water would play a big part in the outcome of the Irish Open. Rory McIlroy held the lead at one stage in the final round but he visited the water on four occasions at the K Club. As the Northern Irishman, and a host of other players faltered on the back nine, Vincent Norrman held his nerve to secure victory.
Vincent Norrman of Sweden celebrates with the trophy after winning the Horizon Irish Open at The K Club on September 10, 2023 in Straffan, Ireland
Image credit: Getty Images
Rory McIlroy had a horror final round at the Irish Open, as Vincent Norrman made it back-to-back wins for Sweden on the DP World Tour.
With the BMW Championship on the horizon, along with the Ryder Cup, McIlroy was back in Europe to sharpen his game on home soil.
After a couple of indifferent rounds, McIlroy charged into contention with a 66 on Saturday at the K Club.
Finding himself in the final group on Sunday, McIlroy was strongly fancied to put on a show for his home fans.
Bad weather in Kildare brought a temporary halt to the final round, but upon the resumption McIroy took advantage of a monster drive on the fourth to make birdie - his second of the round to move into a share of the lead.
His hopes of kicking on were dashed as he found water with his second shot on the seventh and carded a double bogey. With a short iron in hand, it was an awful mistake.
McIlroy suggested he was over the back injury that hampered him in the Tour Championship - the final tournament of the FedEx Cup play-offs - but he never looked totally free in his swing.
A poor approach with wedge in hand on 11 saw him find water for a second time.
He made birdie on 13 to keep in the hunt, but was on the limit on 16 as he chased an eagle to give himself a chance of catching Norrman. From 267 yards from the fairway, McIlroy’s second found the water. After taking a drop, he found water for a second time - his fourth visit to the drink in all on Sunday - as he signed for an ugly triple-bogey eight.
McIlroy finished with a birdie, but a closing 74 left him in the group at nine-under.
At the business end, Norrrman caught fire after the rain delay as a run of seven birdies in his final 12 holes lifted him to 14-under following a closing 65.
As Norrman waited in the clubhouse, a host of players had chances to advance to 14-under but the brutal nature of the finishing holes at the K Club meant no one was able to get to the Swede who secured his second DP World Tour win - a week on from the success of fellow Swede Ludvig Aberg at the European Masters.
"Obviously if you win, you're doing something good," Norrman said. "It's a world-class event, and honestly I can't believe it's happened."
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