DP World Tour leaderboard: Rory McIlroy endures nightmare finish at Irish Open

Rory McIlroy endures nightmare finish at Irish Open: Rory McIlroy spurned a glorious opportunity to claim the 2024 Amgen Irish Open at Royal County Down.

Rory McIlroy snatched defeat from the jaws of victory once again in 2024 with a nightmare finish to the Amgen Irish Open.

McIlroy, who admitted he perhaps tries too hard in front of his home fans earlier in the week, was looking as though he was going to win the tournament for the second time in his career at Royal County Down.

He forged a one-shot lead after 54 holes and was out in front until Rasmus Hojgaard tore round the back nine.

Hojgaard birdied four of his final five holes to card a 6-under 65 and set the clubhouse lead of 9-under.

McIlroy came unstuck at the par-4 15th, making a sloppy bogey after missing the green right and failing to get up-and-down for par.

He bounced back with a birdie at the next but three-putted the 17th to drop two back with two holes left.

R. Hojgaard	-9
R. McIlroy	-8
M. Manassero	-7
D. Brown	-6
R. MacIntyre	-4
G. Forrest	-4
J. Smith	-3
J. Walker	-3
A. Cockerill	-2
S. Valimaki	-2

McIlroy set up a glorious opportunity to force a playoff on the 72nd hole, finding the par-5 in two sumptuous strikes.

But the 15-foot eagle putt didn’t threaten the hole, handing victory to Hojgaard.

The defeat will no doubt be difficult for McIlroy to take given the thousands of Irish fans that were supporting him in his home county this week.

Perhaps it may rival his U.S. Open heartbreak.

Back in June, McIlroy messed up three holes towards the end of his game, missing the chance to win his fifth major after a 10-year wait.

This mistake gave Bryson DeChambeau the opportunity to swoop in and take the major title. “He then had a disappointing result at the last big men’s golf tournament of the year at Royal Troon.”

DP World Tour leaderboard: Final scores from Omega European Masters

M. Wallace*

-11

A. Garcia-Heredia

-11

A. Johnston

-10

J. Scrivener

-8

C. Gugler

-8

McIlroy disclosed that he intends to significantly cut down on the number of tournaments he plays in 2025.” Hojgaard, a 23-year-old, has won five DP World Tour titles.

Matt Wallace, filled with emotion, won his fifth DP World Tour title and his first in six years by defeating Alfredo Garcia-Heredia in a playoff at the Omega European Masters in Switzerland.