McIlroy Clinches Victory in Third Playoff... 8.5m Eagle on Final Hole

A Four-Shot Comeback at the DP World Tour Ireland Open
Dramatic Eagle on the 18th Forces Playoff and Sparks Celebration
20th European Tour Victory for McIlroy, Lagergren Finishes Runner-Up

World No. 2 Rory McIlroy from Northern Ireland pulled off a stunning comeback, overturning a four-shot deficit.

On September 7 (local time), at The K Club (par 72, 7,441 yards) in Dublin, Ireland, McIlroy shot a 6-under-par 66 in the final round of the DP World Tour Amgen Ireland Open (total prize money $6 million). He finished tied at 17-under-par 271 with Joakim Lagergren of Sweden, then clinched victory with a birdie on the third playoff hole at the par-5 18th, which resumed after regulation. This marks his second win at this event following his 2016 victory, his 20th career win on the European Tour, and he takes home a winner's prize of $1.02 million (approximately 1.4 billion won).

Rory McIlroy is smiling while holding the trophy immediately after winning the Amgen Ireland Open. Dublin (Ireland) = AP·Yonhap News

McIlroy started the day tied for fourth, four shots behind the leader, and carded one eagle, five birdies, and one bogey. He immediately offset a bogey on the first hole with a birdie on the second, then made back-to-back birdies on holes four and five, and added further birdies on the ninth and thirteenth to stay in contention. Heading to the final 18th hole (par 5), he was two shots behind the leader and a comeback seemed unlikely, but he dramatically sank a 28-foot (about 8.5 meters) eagle putt to force a playoff.

On the 18th hole, McIlroy matched Lagergren with birdies in the first and second playoff holes, then clinched the win with a birdie on the third playoff hole. After McIlroy's eagle on the 18th forced the playoff, Lagergren dropped his ball in the water during the third playoff hole and fell to his knees in disappointment. McIlroy celebrated, saying, "I achieved a dramatic comeback victory in front of the passionate Irish fans." He will compete in the BMW PGA Championship next week before flying to the United States to participate in the Ryder Cup.