Vincent Norrman claimed a one-shot victory over Hurly Long, with Shane Lowry among players tied for third at 12 under; Rory McIlroy found the hazard four times in a final-round 76 to finish the week tied for 16th at the K Club
By means of Ali Stafford
21:03, UK, Sunday 10 September 2023
Vincent Norrman secured a second DP World Tour title with a stunning victory at the Horizon Irish Open, with Rory McIlroy’s challenge fading after a disappointing final day at the K Club.
Norrman overturned a six-stroke deficit during a sharp final round, after six birdies in an eight-hole stretch by taking advantage of the par-five finale to close out a stunning bogey-free 65 and set the clubhouse target at 14 under.
The Swede was then made to wait for nearly 90 minutes as the chasing pack weakened in the closing stages, with Norrman finishing within a shot of overnight leader Hurly Long and Shane Lowry sharing third place. with Grant Forrest, Thirston Lawrence and Ryan Fox.
McIlroy had a share of the lead on a storm-affected Sunday, but only found the hazard four times in a final-round 74 – including twice with a triple-bogey at the 16th – to close out the week of the 16th round.
Rory McIlroy found the water twice in the final round of the Irish Open.
How Norrman won the Irish thriller
Long took a one-shot lead on the final day but lost his advantage with a three-putt bogey at the second, with the German leading alongside McIlroy, Forrest and Min Woo Lee when the suspended game for more than 90 minutes due to thunderstorms.
McIlroy birdied the first and slid out of the sand to take advantage of the fourth but fell two behind when he found the water and double-bogeyed the seventh, with Fox taking the lead when he followed up consecutive birdies from the fourth by adding one more to the eighth.
Rory McIlroy started his final round of the Irish Open in fine fashion as he birdied the first hole to close the gap on leader Hurly Long to just one shot.
Norrman opened with six pars and was outside the top-20 on the leaderboard until he started his move by birdieing the seventh and making three in a row from the ninth, with a streak that win from 13 then pulled him to level 13 under.
Long responded to a bogey on the eighth by draining from 20 feet on the ninth, while Forrest birdied the tenth to briefly make it a four-way tie at the top again, for only for Fox and Forrest to both come back by dropping shots in the 12th.
Norrman double-putted the par-five in the final stretch to add a seventh birdie of the day and move to 14 under, suddenly moving him to a two-shot lead when Long followed with a birdie. at the 12th by bogeying his next two holes.
McIlroy was three back with five to play but saw his hopes end on the penultimate hole, where he had to hole out from 15 feet just to save a triple-bogey, with the Northern Irishman finishing on five blow back though with a closing birdie.
Rory McIlroy avoided nine or double-digit scores by rattling in from 15 feet to save a triple-bogey eight at the 16th.
Fox bogeyed the 17th to leave him needing a final-hole eagle to force a play-off, which he only needed to putt and leave a closing par, with the New Zealander equaling the closing which is 70 from Forrest.
That left Long the only player to catch Norrman, who saw his victory secured when the German – needing an eagle at the final to reach 14 under – had to settle for a two-putt birdie to take him in solo second.
Lawrence finished birdie-eagle to join Lowry in the third, while Scotland’s Connor Syme carded bogey-free to sit as one of five players an extra shot back at the seventh. .
Norrman was delighted with the Irish’s success
Norrman’s victory follows his success at the Barbasol Championship earlier this season, where the win took him into the top 100 in the world for the first time in his career.
“It means everything,” Normann said. “Obviously it’s a cool event to play in. The fans are amazing. I’m really enjoying the week. It’s been a long wait [as later starters finished] but yes super happy.
“The front nine was huge. I played like that and then I birdied the seventh and ninth to get some momentum on the back. I think that’s the key now. Obviously if you’re winning, you’re doing well. one It’s a world-class event, and I honestly can’t believe it’s happening.”
What’s next?
The DP World Tour heads to England next for the BMW PGA Championship, where all 12 of Europe’s Ryder Cup teams are set to compete, with extended coverage from Wentworth all weekend live on Sky Sports.
Lowry returns as the defending champion, after holding off McIlroy and Jon Rahm to win last year’s event, with live Featured Group coverage starting on Thursday from 8.30am on Sky Sports Golf before full coverage from midday.
Watch this month’s Ryder Cup exclusively live Sky Sports. Live coverage of the opening day starts on Friday September 29 from 6am on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the PGA Tour, Ryder Cup and more NOW.