Rory McIlroy gets his first Irish Open victory, and first win of season

STRAFFAN, Ireland —  Rory McIlroy eagled the final hole to clinch his first victory of the season Sunday at the Irish Open, his home tournament where he’s famously struggled over the years.

McIlroy’s three-shot triumph over Scotland’s Russell Knox and Bradley Dredge of Wales wasn’t smooth sailing. But the Northern Ireland native prevailed with a three-under-par 69, thanks to superior driving power that allowed him to birdie the K Club’s first three par-five holes — then demolish the competition with his final powerful approach shot.

His 276-yard second shot on the 18th landed within three feet of the pin to the deafening cheers of tens of thousands who had braved downpours and hail showers to witness the moment. McIlroy grinned and brushed away a tear or two as he approached the green.

When McIlroy calmly converted his only eagle of the tournament, he stood still and silent for a second. Then he pumped both fists in elation.

“To finish like that today, I’ll never forget it,” McIlroy said after receiving the crystal winner’s trophy beside Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny.

Third-ranked McIlroy long has made winning the Irish Open an elusive priority, his past failures all the more awkward because he’s also the tournament’s official host and donates his prize money to his Rory Foundation children’s charity. He had failed to make the Irish Open cut since 2012. His previous best was seventh place in 2008.

McIlroy looked in danger of squandering his three-stroke lead at the start of Sunday’s final round as Knox, playing alongside him, putted impressively while McIlroy wasted opportunity after opportunity on the greens, including a miss for bogey from barely two feet on the par-four 11th hole.

When Knox birdied the 14th and 15th holes to seize a one-shot lead, McIlroy responded with arguably his greatest shot of the year — a go-for-broke drive across the River Liffey that landed improbably in the heart of the 16th green. As the fans roared their approval, a rattled Knox struck his only back-nine bogey as McIlroy two-putted for a go-ahead birdie.

“I was taking a risk. It was a huge turning point,” said McIlroy, who added it was hard for him to keep his focus “when there’s 30,000 people roaring you on. The ovation I got when that ball landed on the 16th green sent shivers down my spine.”

McIlroy nearly birdied the par-three 17th as well, but simply laughed when the ball circled the cup and rolled a few inches back in his direction.

McIlroy, who now faces three majors in the next 10 weeks, described his Irish breakthrough as a needed psychological “catapult” to reclaim his best form.

“I felt I needed a week like this to kick-start something. No better place than back here at home in Ireland,” he said.

Ireland’s consistently inconsistent weather added another layer of drama.

Lightning storms caused four hours of delays Saturday that forced a dozen players, including McIlroy, to complete the third round at sunrise Sunday. His 21 holes of golf took nearly 10 hours to complete as Sunday’s meteorological menu included wintry monsoons that left fairways and greens waterlogged and carpeted with hailstones, causing two more suspensions in play.