Rory McIlroy has long since proven himself a man for the big occasion but that was only underlined by his performance to win the Amgen Irish Open.
The Northern Irishman came through a play-off against Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren - after producing a dramatic eagle at the 18th in regulation - to become a two-time winner of his national open at The K Club on Sunday.
Now a 20-time winner on the DP World Tour, the World Number Two sealed his fourth worldwide win of the year and first since becoming Europe’s first player to complete the career Grand Slam at the Masters Tournament in April.
In the aftermath of his dramatic success over the weekend – his 45th professional win worldwide – McIlroy said 2025 is proving to be the year that keeps on giving, with a Ryder Cup still to come at Bethpage.
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It is in contrast with the heartbreak after a series of difficult losses and near-misses that defined his 2024.
Here, we recall McIlroy’s trio of play-off triumphs worldwide so far this year, with the 36-year-old the favourite for this week’s BMW PGA Championship as the Rolex Series returns to Wentworth Club.
THE PLAYERS Championship
After a top five at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January, McIlroy made his first event of the PGA TOUR season at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am a winning one. Top 20s followed at the Genesis Invitational and Arnold Palmer Invitational, before he arrived at TPC Sawgrass for the PGA TOUR’s flagship event – THE PLAYERS. Inspired by the consistency of Scottie Scheffler last year, he spoke of his determination to reach similar heights in 2025 and claimed his second win before April in a play-off against J.J. Spaun.
Despite some overnight frustration at letting slip a three-shot lead with six holes to play in a marathon final round that featured a four-hour weather delay and forced the tournament into a fifth day, McIlroy returned on Monday to seal victory in a three-hole play-off. A booming drive down the first hole of the play-off set the tone, finding the green in two to make a birdie, before Spaun found the water at the 17th ‘island hole’ to all but end the contest. After McIlroy three-putted to drop a shot, his lead was three going down the last as his American opponent made a triple-bogey six. While he was blocked out off the tee, he could tap in for bogey to win the play-off on one over par. It was his 28th PGA TOUR win and saw him become just the eighth man to win multiple PLAYERS Championships.
“I didn't get it done last night and I really wanted to,” he said. “I'm expected to win, as well. That brings its own pressure in some way. But I felt like I handled everything and handled those nerves really well.”
The Masters
Such was his start to the year, Grand Slam expectations were fever pitch as McIlroy arrived at Augusta National for the first men’s Major Championship of the season. A third-round 66 saw him surge to the top of the leaderboard, but his two-shot overnight lead was wiped out after a double bogey at the first. However, from there he had three birdies in seven holes as he went four clear with nine to play, but four dropped shots in as many holes from the 11th gave hope to the chasing pack.
While the expected challenge from playing partner Bryson DeChambeau did not materialise, it was Justin Rose who birdied six of his final eight holes to force a play-off. Having missed a par putt to win in regulation, McIlroy's birdie on the first extra hole denied his Ryder Cup team-mate as he claimed the biggest prize of his career.
"A lot of pent-up emotion came out on the 18th green. A moment like that makes all the years and all the close calls worth it,” said an emotional McIlroy.
Amgen Irish Open
After finishing in a tie for second at the Genesis Scottish Open and adding a further top ten at The Open on his Royal Portrush homecoming a week later, McIlroy struggled to ignite during his two starts in the FedExCup Play-Offs, but felt his game was approaching where he wanted it to be as he addressed the media in the lead-up to the island of Ireland’s national open. While winning it would be nice, McIlroy made clear it was by no means a necessity and focus was already being cast to the upcoming Ryder Cup and the task of winning on the road. But after a second consecutive bogey-free round in the third round, the headline act in the field was firmly in the mix as he trailed overnight leader Adrien Saddier by four shots.
While his chances were hit by a dropped shot at the first, he hit back with three birdies – two of which came from distance at the second and fifth – in his next four holes. But, while he added further gains at the ninth and 13th, he required an eagle on the 18th to match Joakim Lagergren at the top of the leaderboard. But, in remarkable fashion, he duly delivered by holing a 25-foot eagle putt to the delight of the ecstatic home crowds. Both players parred the first two play-off holes, before Lagergren found water with his second shot enabling McIlroy to seal a dramatic victory with a two-putt birdie.
“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. 2025 is going to go down as one of the best, if not the best of my career.”
