Rory McIlroy’s brutal season continued with a cruel conclusion to the Irish Open on Sunday, missing out on his home open title by one shot after a sloppy mistake at the penultimate hole

Rory McIlroy suffered a brutal repeat of his US Open heartbreak, throwing away victory at the Irish Open on Sunday.

Rasmus Hojgaard took advantage, producing a sensational back nine at Royal County Down in Northern Ireland to take victory by one shot at nine-under-par

McIlroy held a two-shot lead down the stretch but he was made to pay for a sloppy three-putt bogey at the par-four 17th, falling two shots behind the 23-year-old Dane. To McIlroy’s credit, he bravely chased an eagle at the par-five last and struck two perfect shots to leave little more than 10 feet to force a playoff.

Agonizingly for a partisan home crowd, the Ulsterman’s putt drifted narrowly past the cup. The 35-year-old held a one-shot lead heading into the final round and finished with a two-under-par card of 69.

The echoes from the nightmare conclusion at Pinehurst No. 2 – when McIlroy let a two-shot lead and his first major win in a decade slip through his fingers – were profound, as his season of heartache continues.

Rory McIlory was THIS close to hitting a final hole eagle to force a play-off with Rasmus Højgaard at the Amgen Irish Open 🤏 pic.twitter.com/CEi4w2uqk6

— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) September 15, 2024

McIlroy has three wins this season, but none since the events of the US Open, and this was another example of the world No. 3 losing his nerve in the final moments of the tournament. He will have to go back to the drawing board ahead of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, which tees off on Thursday.

The golf gods shone brightly on Hojgaard, who blended class and good fortune to piece together the best round of his young career. He holed out for a birdie two from the rough at the 10th before benefitting from a hugely fortunate bounce at 14 to set up another birdie when it appeared he would miss the green.

His storybook moment came at 17 when he found the greenside bunker. With his third shot, he splashed out and holed his attempt, stunning a crowd so desperate to see McIlroy return to winning ways.

Rasmus Højgaard CHIPS IN from the most IMPROBABLE of positions! 🔥🪄 pic.twitter.com/raq05yLDGQ

— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) September 15, 2024

With McIlroy making his fatal error at the same hole just a few minutes later, Hojgaard had a two-shot cushion heading up the last. He flared his drive wide right but responded with a superb approach to the front of the green, getting down in two putts for a birdie that ultimately clinched his fifth DP World Tour win.

As a result, he is on course to win one of 10 PGA Tour cards up for grabs in the DP World Tour’s Race To Dubai rankings. He will follow in the footsteps of twin brother Nicolai, who earned his card last season soon after representing Europe in the Ryder Cup.

“I had a number today that I was trying to reach, and that was eight [under-par], but obviously coming in and finishing on nine-under was gold,” Hojgaard said after signing for a six-under-par 65.

“I’m so happy. The game has been trending for a while now and to get this one is massive.”