LONDON
\nSweden\u2019s Vincent Norrman won the Irish Open as Rory McIlroy\u2019s title bid fell apart in Sunday\u2019s final round at The K Club. Norrman hit a superb 65 to finish on 14 under par, one shot ahead of second-placed Hurly Long.
\nFormer champion Shane Lowry was part of a four-way tie for third on 12 under.
\nNorrman was six shots behind overnight leader Long at the start of the round, but he fired six birdies in the space of eight holes from the seventh and then two-putted the par-five 18th.
\nLong was briefly on the same score thanks to a birdie on the 12th, but bogeyed the next two holes and was unable to make an eagle on the last to force a play-off.
\nMcllory had started the final round two shots behind Long, with birdies on the first and fourth holes giving him hope of victory.
\nBut he found water on the seventh, 11th and twice on the 16th as he stumbled to a disappointing round of 74.
\n\u201cIt means everything,\u201d Norrman said after his second DP World Tour title in two months following his triumph at the Barbasol Championship in July. \u201cIt\u2019s such a cool event to play, the fans have been incredible and I really had a fun week out there. I can\u2019t believe this happened. \u201cI was starting off a little so-so and I made two birdies and got a rain delay, had a coffee and then went out and flushed it.
\n\u201cI knew there were a few chances out there. I didn\u2019t really have a number in my head. I just tried to press on with some birdie looks and saved a few great pars too to keep the momentum going.\u201d
\nLowry, who began the week facing questions about his Ryder Cup wild card after recording just one top-10 finish in 2023, recorded a third 68 of the week which featured a tap-in eagle on the fourth and four birdies.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s obviously a tournament that I would love to win again,\u201d said 2009 champion Lowry.
\n\u201cI\u2019m a little disappointed now because to be honest I didn\u2019t see a scoreboard for a long time out there. There was not many out there and 13 under was still leading when I got to the 16th green.
\n\u201cI did my best and it\u2019s been a great week. The crowds were incredible. It\u2019s one of the best Irish Opens I can remember.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LONDON Sweden\u2019s Vincent Norrman won the Irish Open as Rory McIlroy\u2019s title bid fell apart in Sunday\u2019s final round at The K Club. Norrman hit a superb 65 to finish on 14 under par, one shot ahead of second-placed Hurly Long. Former champion Shane Lowry was part of a four-way tie for third on 12 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":355633,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-355623","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n