NEWCASTLE, Northern Ireland (AP) — Rasmus Hojgaard birdied his last three holes Sunday for a 6-under 65 to win the Irish Open and hand Rory McIlroy another dose of disappointment before a raucous gallery at Royal County Down.

McIlroy's 2-under 69 on Sunday was good enough to get him to 8 under, but Højgaard's insane 6-under 65 pushed him to 9 under for a one-shot victory. Rasmus Højgaard! 🇩🇰 He joins the lead in style. #AmgenIrishOpen pic.

Rory McIlroy is no exception. But it wasn’t to be. Riding a potent combination of good fortune and stellar shot-making over the closing nine-holes at Royal County Down—a run that culminated with four birdies in the last five holes—Rasmus Hojgaard overhauled McIlroy’s long-time lead to shoot 65 and walk off with the Irish Open title.

NEWCASTLE, Northern Ireland (AP) — Rory McIlroy delivered enough superb shots in a strong wind Saturday for a 2-under 69, giving him a one-shot lead over Matteo Manassero in the Irish Open as McIlroy tries to erase two bad memories on home soil.

Rory McIlroy began the day with a two shot lead at the Irish Open, but costly mistakes down the stretch sealed his fate.

After three days of play at Royal County Down, only one man can say he has been under par walking off the 18th green. That man is Rory McIlroy, who followed up rounds of 68-70 to open the 2024 Irish Open with a 2-under 69 on Moving Day to go from two back to one in front heading into Sunday's deciding round.

The next event is the prestigious BMW PGA Championship, a Rolex Series event scheduled for September 19-22 at the Wentworth Club in Virginia Water, England

McIlroy had a two-shot lead on the back nine until Hojgaard put together a stunning charge down the stretch to win for the fifth time on the European tour

With a sold-out crowd and a ton of momentum, Rory McIlroy appeared poised to post his first DP World Tour victory on Northern Irish soil after taking the 54-hole lead at the Amgen Irish Open on Saturday.