Rory McIlroy’s dramatic 72nd hole eagle leads to Irish Open title and first since winning Masters

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[Picture: Warren Little]

Irish Open champion Rory McIlroy, it seems, is a big fan of drama. Or emotion. Likely both. On Sunday (Monday AEST), his first victory worldwide since that rollercoaster Masters triumph in April also left fans on the edge for hours. It also required extra holes after he made a 28-footer for eagle on the 72nd hole that sent the home fans into a frenzy.

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At the country’s famed K Club, in front of tens of thousands, McIlroy claimed his second Irish Open title after three extra holes against defiant Swede Joakim Lagergren. It was McIlroy’s first trophy since donning Augusta National’s green jacket, a moment that cemented his place in history as the sixth winner of golf’s coveted career Grand Slam.

It was the Northern Irishman’s fourth win of 2025, and his dominant display at the ATT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February was the only title that didn’t require extra holes. He needed overtime against JJ Spaun at the Players Championship, Justin Rose at Augusta and Lagergren at the K Club.

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“Look, I feel just so lucky that I get to do this, I get to do this in front of these people,” an emotional McIlroy said after playing 75 holes for the week. “The support has been absolutely amazing all week.”

McIlroy’s win came only three days after he treated those fans to a question-and-answer session in the spectator village. After the first round, Augusta’s green jacket made its first public appearance on the island of Ireland. McIlroy also had all four of his major championship trophies on display.

“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 said. “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.”

Before this week, McIlroy was renowned for striking two fairway metals that became part of Irish golfing folklore during his 2016 Irish Open triumph at the K Club.

This year, the turning point of the final round was another fairway metal struck beautifully from 238 metres at the par-5 16th that settled to four feet for an easy eagle.

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Lagergren, though, was the author of the shot. He’s a DP World Tour professional obscure enough that only a year ago he won the Irish Challenge, an event on Europe’s secondary circuit, at the K Club’s South Course.

But an eagle at the K Club’s par-5 18th? That belonged to McIlroy.

“That’s a Rory roar,” commentators said of the bedlam that ensued when McIlroy (66) drained a 28-foot putt for a 3 to force a playoff with Lagergren (66) at 17 under par.

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“I had a putt on the last green last year at [the 2024 Irish Open at Royal County Down] to force a playoff with Rasmus [Hojgaard], and it just missed on the high side,” McIlroy said. “So [this eagle in regulation] felt like it was a little bit of redemption. I wanted to just be aggressive with it and it was such a cool moment, such a cool feeling for that to go in.”

On their second walk down the 501m 18th, both an inspired Lagergren and McIlroy found the green and in two and narrowly missed their eagle putts. Another playoff hole was needed, but again both failed in their eagles tries and made short knee-knocking birdies.

Inexplicably, Lagergren—who had the advantage from the fairway on the third playoff hole when he found the 18th fairway while McIlroy’s tee shot settled in heavy rough—went directly at the flag. Lagergren’s ball bounced long and into the water and McIlroy muscled an iron to the green for a long eagle try.

Technically, it wasn’t over but there was a sense of inevitability after McIlroy lagged his eagle attempt to an inch. Lagergren took a drop beside the green and needed to chip in to extend overtime but couldn’t hold on any longer.

“The way the 18th was playing today, it just felt like it was a case of who was going to blink first,” McIlroy said. “Joakim hit a poor second shot into the playoff hole and that opened the door for me. Just so happy to win my second Irish Open.”

McIlroy had started the final day at the K Club four shots off the lead and then bogeyed the first. But birdies at Nos. 2, 4, 5, 9 and 13 set up No.18 in regulation – one of his most dramatic putts of 2025.

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Richard Heathcote

“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; 2025 is going to go down as one of the best, if not the best of my career,” McIlroy said. “[And] were’ not finished yet. I’ve got a big week next week at [the BMW PGA] Wentworth and then the Ryder Cup. I’m just so happy my game’s in good shape. I feel like I’m playing well. Excited for what’s coming up.”

Still, the 36-year-old self-confessed lover of national opens said he would celebrate the Irish edition well into the night. He also has the Australian Open at Royal Melbourne in December on his schedule.

“I feel very fortunate because there’s probably very few golfers in the world that get the support that I get when I go home; maybe Jon Rahm in Spain and a few others, but this is absolutely incredible,” he said. “I don’t take it for granted. I feel very grateful and very lucky that I get to do this. I love coming home. I love playing in this atmosphere. Moments like this, these are the things you’re going to remember well after your career is over.”