The World No. 2 erased a four-shot deficit in a thrilling final round at The K Club, finishing with a spectacular eagle on the 18th to card a six-under 66 and force a playoff with Joakim Lagergren.
McIlroy birdied all three extra holes to claim his second Irish Open title at the same venue where he won in 2016, marking his fourth worldwide victory of the season—his first since completing the career Grand Slam at The Masters.
The Northern Irishman also extended his lead atop the Race to Dubai standings and is chasing a seventh Order of Merit crown, now looking to carry his stellar form into Team Europe’s Ryder Cup campaign at Bethpage Black.
“To do what I did earlier in the year and then to come home and win my national open, no matter what happens for the rest of the year, that’s a pretty cool year,” McIlroy said. “2025 is going to go down as one of the best, if not the best of my career.
“As I said, we’re not finished yet. I’ve got a big week next week at Wentworth and then obviously everyone’s looking forward to the Ryder Cup. I’m just so happy my game’s in good shape.
“I feel like I’m playing well. Excited for what’s coming up.”
Last year’s Irish Open runner-up surged into a share of the lead with a front-nine 31 and grabbed sole control with a birdie at the 13th, only to fall two shots behind before sinking a dramatic 30-foot eagle on the 72nd hole.
McIlroy – who had missed a putt to force a playoff in last year’s event – then birdied the first two extra holes before sealing victory on the third after Lagergren found the water, prompting jubilant celebrations from the Irish crowd.
“I just feel so lucky that I get to do this in front of these people,” McIlroy added. “The support has been amazing all week. I thought it was going to be a nice homecoming, obviously coming home with a Green Jacket and all that, but this has been incredible.
“This has exceeded all of my expectations. Just so, so happy I could play the way I did this week for all of them and get the win.
“I had a putt last year at [Royal County Down] to force a play-off with Rasmus [Hojgaard] and it just missed on the high side, so it felt like [the eagle at the 18th] was a little bit of redemption.
“I wanted to be aggressive with it – such a cool feeling, cool moment for that to go in, and that gave me a chance in the play-off. It just felt like it was him who was going to blink first.
“Joakim hit a poor second shot in on that play-off hole and that opened the door for me, and I’m just so happy to win my second Irish Open.”
