Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry raked in hefty paydays for their efforts at this week's Amgen Irish Open. McIlroy bagged a cool €595,419 ($660,000) for his second-place finish.
Lowry, tying for 12th, will pocket a sizeable sum despite not securing the solo 12th spot which would have earned him €93,108 ($103,200).
Despite the payday, it's little comfort for McIlroy who was in the lead most of the week but was overtaken at the last by Rasmus Hojgaard . The Dane clinched victory with a trio of birdies to close with a 65, leaving him at -9.
McIlroy, after a three-putt bogey on the 17th, needed an eagle on the 18th to tie but came up short. The Irishman, who narrowly missed out on his first major since 2014 at the US Open in June , expressed his disappointment.
He said: "Unfortunately I'm getting used to it this year. Hopefully the tide is going to turn pretty soon, and I can turn all these close calls into victories ."
Reflecting on the home crowd's support, McIlroy went on: "I must say, that roar when I hit that second shot on 18 was pretty cool. The support I got out there this week was absolutely amazing . I certainly don't take it for granted.
"I had to try to keep my composure walking up to the 18th green there. Wish I could play in front of those fans and this atmosphere every week ."
He added: "From where I was at the start of the week and what I wanted to do, it's a step in the right direction. You know, if anything, it just whets my appetite even more for Portrush [the Open Championship] next year."
McIlroy began the final round with a one-shot lead and made a strong start with birdies on the first and second holes. However, his advantage was briefly threatened when he made a bogey on the seventh and missed birdie putts on the eighth and ninth.
Meanwhile, his opponent Hojgaard made a remarkable chip-in for birdie on the 10th and went on to birdie the 16th, while McIlroy bogeyed the 15th. Hojgaard then holed out from a bunker on the 17th, and although McIlroy drew level with a birdie on the 16th , he missed a birdie putt on the 17th.
In the end, Hojgaard's birdie on the 18th meant McIlroy needed an eagle to force a play-off. McIlroy's approach from 191 yards gave him a chance from 15 feet, but the eagle putt slid just wide.
Hojgaard expressed his satisfaction after clinching his fifth DP World Tour title, saying: " It was a hard watch in the end but I had a number today that I was trying to reach , and that was eight (under).
Obviously coming in and finishing on nine was gold and I'm so happy. The game's been trending for a while now and to get this one is massive."
Reflecting on specific moments, he elaborated: "On 10 I got away with a good lie. I thought I hit a great chip there and maybe would have been five, six feet past, but then there was a flag in the way.
For all the latest news straight to your inbox, sign up for our FREE newsletters here .
"On 17 I was a bit worried I could be plugged in the bunker but coming up to an uphill lie in the bunker gave me a little bit more confidence that I could get it up and down . To hole it was key."
For the latest local news and features on Irish America, visit our homepage here .
Local News
Comments / 0