Rasmus Højgaard holed out twice as he pipped local favourite Rory McIlroy to win the Amgen Irish Open at Royal County Down.
Related: Rory McIlroy homes in on Irish Open glory
McIlroy looked on course to claim his first professional win on home soil when he led by two shots with four holes to play at a venue just an hour from where he grew up.
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However Højgaard had other ideas, as he completed a superb closing 65 with four birdies in the last five holes to claim his fifth DP World Tour title, move to second in the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex and to the top of the European Ryder Cup standings.
World Number Three McIlroy had taken a one-shot lead into the final round and made the ideal start with birdies on the first and second.
With playing partner Matteo Manassero then dropping shots on the third and fourth, McIlroy briefly enjoyed a four-shot lead before making a bogey on the seventh after failing to get up and down from left of the green.
He then missed from inside ten feet for birdie on both the eighth and the ninth as Højgaard kickstarted his challenge with an outrageous chip-in for birdie on the tenth.
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A birdie on the 11th edged McIlroy two in front again, but that advantage was wiped out as Højgaard birdied the 16th and McIlroy bogeyed the 15th.
Højgaard then dramatically holed out from a greenside bunker on the 17th and, although McIlroy drew level with a birdie on the 16th, the four-time Major winner charged his birdie putt on the 17th past the hole and missed the return.
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Højgaard’s third birdie in a row on the 18th meant McIlroy needed to make an eagle on the same hole to force a play-off and a towering approach from 191 yards gave him a chance from 15 feet, only for the eagle putt to slide just wide.
Højgaard becomes the fourth Danish winner of the Amgen Irish Open, following in the footsteps of Søren Hansen, Thomas Bjørn and Søren Kjeldsen, who also lifted the trophy at Royal County Down in 2015.
Player quotes
Rasmus Højgaard: It’s massive. It’s one of those tournaments that you want to put your name on, so it’s awesome.
I was trying to aim for a number. I was trying to get to 8-under and then see if that was going to have a chance. I stayed patient out there. Was only one under after nine. Knew I had to find some gold on the back nine. Got away with a chip-in on 10, and it sort of elevated my game a little.
Again, 17, it was a poor second shot. Bit worried that it might have been plugged in the bunker. But was obviously very happy that I saw it was a good lie. Gave me a bit of confidence that I could get it up-and-down, and then to hole it was obviously a key moment for the outcome.
I was nervous. I was shaking out there the last few holes. I obviously knew that Rory was going to be there because he’s got the whole support on his back there. It was nerve-wracking going down the last few holes knowing that he was right behind me.
The timing is perfect. You know, I’ve set a couple goals that I want to achieve, and one of them was getting a PGA TOUR this year, and the other one is Ryder Cup next year. It’s nice to get a step closer.
We (Danish players) seem to do well at this event. I don’t think there’s any explanation what does it for us. But yeah, it’s great a great win for Denmark. I can add my name to Søren (Kjeldsen)’s. He’s won here as well. It’s a course that demands a lot from our games, and I’ve played so well all week. Been very happy with my tee-to-green.
