IRISH CRIES

Agony for home hero Rory as great Dane Ras triumphs

- DALE RANKIN

RASMUS HOJGAARD produced a brilliant finish to win the Amgen Irish Open and inflict a second heartbreaking defeat of the year on home favourite Rory McIlroy.

McIlroy looked on course for his first professional win on home soil when he led by two shots with four holes to play at Royal County Down, just an hour from where he grew up.

But while Dane Hojgaard completed a superb closing 65 with four birdies in the last five holes including three in a row from the 16th - McIlroy threeputted 17 and missed an eagle putt on 18 to force a play-off.

A disappointed McIlroy, who missed out on a first Major since 2014 when he bogeyed three of the last four holes in the US Open in June, said: "Unfortunately I'm getting used to it this year.