McIlroy wins Irish Open in dramatic play-off after 25-foot eagle

Rory McIlroy held his nerve to win the Irish Open in a dramatic play-off at the K Club on Sunday, holing a 25-foot eagle putt on the 72nd hole to force extra holes and then edging Sweden's Joakim Lagergren on the third play-off hole to secure the title.

McIlroy, the world number two, recorded his first victory since completing the career Grand Slam at the Masters in April and his fourth of the season after wins at Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the Players Championship and the Masters. The Northern Irishman beat Lagergren after both players birdied the first two play-off holes and Lagergren found water on the third.

Trailing overnight leader Adrien Saddier by four shots at the start of the final round, McIlroy suffered a dropped shot at the opening hole but recovered with three birdies in his next four holes, including long putts on the second and fifth. He also birdied the ninth and 13th, and his dramatic eagle on the par-5 18th — only the second eagle of the day — brought him level with Lagergren at six-under 66 and forced the play-off.

Lagergren, whose sole DP World Tour title came in 2018, surged into contention with three birdies and a spectacular two on the 16th, when he knocked his 266-yard approach to five feet and converted the eagle. He birdied the last to set the clubhouse target that McIlroy matched with his late eagle.

Both players converted birdies on the first two extra holes, leaving the contest to be decided on the third. Lagergren's approach found water, handing McIlroy the victory at his national open for the second time, nine years after his first triumph at the K Club.

"I thought it was going to be a nice homecoming, obviously coming home with a green jacket and all that, but this has been absolutely incredible," McIlroy told Sky Sports after the win. "This has exceeded all of my expectations. I'm just so, so happy I could play the way I did this week for all of them and get the win."

McIlroy said he had tried to be aggressive on the 18th and that making the eagle putt gave him a chance in the play-off. "I hit it, and I wanted to just be aggressive with it. It was such a cool moment, such a cool feeling for that to go in. That gave me a chance in the play-off," he added.

The final day produced a tight leaderboard. McIlroy found himself in a five-way tie for the lead with Lagergren, Saddier, Spain's Angel Hidalgo and Spain's Rafael Cabrera-Bello, who injected himself into contention with a hole-in-one on the third. Saddier, who had led after 36 holes, faded with a closing 74.

The result provided a measure of redemption for McIlroy after last year’s heartache at Royal County Down, where he missed an eagle putt on the 72nd hole and lost in a playoff to Denmark’s Rasmus Hojgaard. McIlroy has now won three events this season by play-off, having prevailed in extra holes previously at the Players Championship and the Masters.

The victory brings McIlroy’s professional tally to 45 wins and arrives at a timely point in the season with the Ryder Cup looming later this month. McIlroy is due to compete next week at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth before joining his European team-mates for the match against the United States at Bethpage Black in New York.

"To do what I did earlier in the year and then to come home and win my national open, no matter what happens for the rest of the year, that's a pretty cool year," McIlroy said. "2025 is going to go down as one of the best, if not the best of my career. As I said, we're not finished yet. I've got a big week next week at Wentworth and then obviously everyone's looking forward to the Ryder Cup. I'm just so happy my game's in good shape. I feel like I'm playing well and I'm excited for what's coming up."

Lagergren will finish the week as a runner-up after a notable performance that included the 16th-hole eagle and a closing birdie. The Irish Open was contested over the County Kildare course at the K Club, where McIlroy previously triumphed in 2016, and it provided another highlight in a season that has seen the 36-year-old win major and marquee events.

Organizers and spectators praised the quality of Sunday’s finish, which showcased the tournament’s competitiveness and produced dramatic moments down the stretch. The Irish Open now concludes as a boost to McIlroy’s form and momentum as he and Europe prepare for the Ryder Cup confrontation later in September.