Rory McIlroy expressed utter astonishment after defeating Joakim Lagergren to win the Irish Open on Sunday in dramatic fashion at The K Club.
The Northern Irishman entered the final round seeking his first title since securing the Masters green jacket earlier this year.
Trailing by four shots at the start of the day, McIlroy staged a masterclass in resilience.
He amassed a bogey-free six-under 66 to close the gap on French leader Adrien Saddier, who faced setbacks on the back nine.
Rory McIlroy reveals astonishment after beating Joakim Lagergren to win Irish Open | GETTY
McIlroy’s composed play, marked by two clutch birdie putts, showed both precision and urgency.
Joakim Lagergren, however, gave himself a formidable target. The Swede produced a late surge, carding an eagle on the par-five 16th followed by a birdie at the 18th to reach 17-under.
His clutch performance put pressure squarely back on McIlroy.
Needing an eagle to stay alive, the Northern Irishman then delivered.
Launching a 340-yard drive on the 18th hole, he followed with a precise 192-yard approach.
A 27-foot eagle putt then dropped in, sending the crowd into a frenzy and forcing a playoff with Lagergren at 17-under—two clear of nearest challengers—on a par-5 18th.
Emotional and visibly moved, McIlroy reflected on the support and significance of the win.
“Look, I feel just too lucky that I get to do this in front of these people,” he said.
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RORY WINS HIS NATIONAL OPEN ⭐️
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Rory McIlroy wins the 2025 Amgen Irish Open 🏆#AmgenIrishOpen pic.twitter.com/2eu2ygRcEZ
“The support has been absolutely amazing all week.
"I thought it was going to be nice coming home with a Green Jacket, but this has exceeded all expectations.”
With both players locked at 17-under, the victory was decided in a sudden-death playoff.
McIlroy, showing his nerve under pressure, prevailed to clinch his first Irish Open title since 2016. The win earned him £800,000 and lifted his DP World Tour leaderboard standing.
The Irish Open has long held a special place in McIlroy’s career, having won it at the same venue in 2016.
He also donated his prize money that year to his Rory Foundation.
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This triumph marks McIlroy’s second title of 2025 following his emotionally charged Masters victory and reinforces his form ahead of a busy autumn golf calendar including the Ryder Cup and perhaps more.
It was a powerful reminder that, once again, McIlroy’s flair for drama, precision, and emotional connection make him one of the sport's most compelling figures.