McIlroy was forced to eagle the 72nd hole to take it to a play-off after Joakim Lagergren’s own stunning eagle at the 16th. After the first two extra holes were tied in birdie fours, Lagergren found the water hazard third time around to allow McIlroy to win it with two putts.
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In pre-event betting, McIlroy was the third-worst result for William Hill, behind only Shane Lowry and runaway liability Brooks Koepka. Koepka would have accounted for roughly twice the losses of Lowry and four times those of McIlroy.
However, McIlroy’s surge during the final round and dramatic playoff triumph turned him into the only losing in-play outcome, capping off a tough weekend for William Hill.
Team Europe will be hoping McIlroy carries this form into New York later this month, and he’s currently 4/1 to be the top European points scorer in Luke Donald’s Ryder Cup team.
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“Rory McIlroy’s victory at the K Club may have thrilled fans, but it certainly didn’t help our bottom line,” spokesman Lee Phelps said. “The Masters champion was incredibly well-backed from the outset, attracting almost a quarter of all pre-tournament stakes and dominating the in-play market as well.
“He was the third-worst result for us before a ball was hit and by far the biggest losing outcome once the action got underway – no other player even came close to matching his in-play volume. It was a dramatic win, but one that left us licking our wounds.
“Those who backed McIlroy for success in County Kildare will be hoping he takes that form to Bethpage at the Ryder Cup; we have him as the joint-favourite with Jon Rahm at 4/1 to be Europe’s top points scorer.”