McIlroy holds off Knox to claim Irish Open

Agence France Presse
ECSTATIC: Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy celebrates after winning the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open on Sunday at The K Club, County Kildare, Ireland. (Reuters)

DUBLIN: Tournament host Rory McIlroy hit two stunning approach shots in the closing three holes to end a six-month winless drought, capturing the Irish Open at the K Club on Sunday.
The Northern Irishman used his prodigious length to birdie the par-five 16th and then, with a one-shot lead on the par-five last, he hit his second shot from over 250 yards to within just a couple of feet of the pin before tapping in for eagle.
McIlroy went into the final round of the weather-affected event leading by three shots,and the world number three’s rally in the closing holes carried him to a closing 69 and victory by three strokes with a 12-under par total.
The win is McIlroy’s first as a professional on Irish soil, and also a first taste of success since capturing last November’s European Tour season-ending World Tour Championship in Dubai.
Scotland’s Russell Knox, using a borrowed driver, looked set to deny McIlroy as he moved one shot clear of the field thanks to back-to-back birdies at 14 and 15.
However, the 30-year-old Florida-based golfer three-putted the 16th for bogey in an eventual round of 68, to finish tied for second at nine under par with Welshman Bradley Dredge, who signed for a 66.
Germany’s Martin Kaymer produced the lowest score on the final day with a seven under par 65 to share fifth place at six under.

Leading final round scores at the Irish Open on the par 72 Palmer Course, K Club, Straffan, Co. Kildare, Ireland on Sunday:
276 — Rory McIlroy (NIR) 67-70-70-69
279 — Bradley Dredge (WAL) 71-70-72-66, Russell Knox (SCO) 75-66-70-68
280 — Matthew Southgate (ENG) 70-69-73-68
282 — Martin Kaymer (GER) 69-73-75-65, Maximilian Kieffer (GER) 77-68-70-67, Tyrrell Hatton (ENG) 72-68-72-70
283 — Eddie Pepperell (ENG) 71-70-76-66, Rafa Cabrera Bello (ESP) 72-71-70-70
284 — Rikard Karlberg (SWE) 73-73-72-66, Thorbjorn Olesen (DEN) 72-72-74-66, James Morrison (ENG) 70-76-69-69, Lee Westwood (ENG) 72-72-70-70, Sebastien Gros (FRA) 71-70-73-70, Jamie Donaldson (WAL) 71-70-72-71, Gregory Bourdy (FRA) 72-73-68-71, Richard Sterne (RSA) 72-68-71-73