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Scotland's Russell Knox emerged victorious from an exciting conclusion to the sun-soaked Dubai Duty Free Irish Open a disappointed home contingent was already turning their thoughts to Carnoustie and next week's bid for the Open Championship.
Knox sank two stunning 40-feet putts at the 18th yesterday, the first to claim the clubhouse from Jorge Campillo of Spain late in the final round. Then he repeated the feat after New Zealander Ryan Fox had joined him on 14 under by force to play on the same hole. As he had managed to regulate on the 72nd hole, Knox rolled in the distance to put on the pressure on Fox, his own effort was awarded to the Scotus victory and a winner's check for € 998,425. He was in front of a delighted gallery in a crowd of 27,055 that took total attendance for the week to 94,239
Having come agonizingly close to winning this tournament at the K Club two years ago – the day Rory McIlroy snatched victory with a magical approach from 252 yards over water to three feet – Knox this time turned the table on Fox, who had led after 18 holes, co-led after 36 with Matthieu Pavon and Erik van Rooyen and started the final day of the 54-hole leader van Rooyen.
A European Tour rookie this year, the van Rooyen express had derailed on the final day, the South African fading with a two-over 74 to share fourth place defending champion Jon Rahm, whose fourth-round 66 equals Knox's and was one behind Campillo's seven under round of the day. For the champion, though, there was tremendous satisfaction at following a runner-up finish with a victory in his second Irish Open
"Must be the Guinness I guess," Knox. "Obviously this is a mbadive tournament. The K Club and Ballyliffin, polar opposites, obviously. Both terrific come. I do not know, I just got lucky. This is my week, this time of year, to play good golf, I guess. Yeah, lucky to be my time. "
As Knox and Fox took his play-off against the Chinese, it was time for the 147th Open later, the Irish contingent was already turning
McIlroy and Shane Lowry finished the week in the second year of the year.
McIlroy and Shane Lowry finished the week, and scored a match. Graeme McDowell and Paul Dunne's on the week by the week. Simon Thornton gets his cash in the field from an open qualifier at Rosapenna to claim a tie for 59th. Thornton will not be at The Open Goal 2014 champion McIlroy feels he has benefited from his week at Ballyliffin as he bids to regain the Claret Jug he won at Hoylake
Here's the shot that secured the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open for Russell Knox with Ryan Fox failing to putt shortly after. #IrishOpen pic.twitter.com/7vAc1UFWWI
– RTEgolf (@RTEgolf) July 8, 2018
"I think just playing golf links. Links golf is just so much different from what we play week in, week out, especially in America. The golf course that we played in Hartford has a couple of weeks ago compared to the golf course here, it's chalk and cheese, completely different golf. It's a different game.
"So it was nice to get a competitive start on a race course, especially a firm race with the weather under my belt before heading to the Open. Just bumping shots into greens, just getting comfortable with that stuff is really important heading into the open. "
McIlroy was much happier
"I think that helped," the world number eight said. "I feel like I'm on a good path with that. I do not feel like I need to change anything. If I'm going to be carnoustie like I did today I'd be happy. "
It's a first Open return to Carnoustie since 2007, when Padraig Harrington won the first of his back-to-back Claret Buttons Jugs though Alfred Dunhill Links, Dunne knows it will be a much stiffer challenge this month.
"The Dunhill, there's no rough," Dunne said. "It's not like when you play" St Andrews in the Dunhill and then you play The Open There, tough pines and a different golf course.
"It's not that difficult in the Dunhill and you've got an easy shot to the green. The strategy changes I think when they grow up so that I'm sure it will be narrow and firm.
Russell Knox on winning the 2018 Irish Open – "It's tough to describe how amazing this feels" ] pic.twitter.com/BM1iwnkQdP
– RTEgolf (@RTEgolf) July 8, 2018
For McDowell there is still the issue of qualifying for Carnoustie. Lost clubs in transit from France at the start of last week forced the 2010 US Open champion to withdraw from final qualifying at St. Anne's last Tuesday leaving him with two chances via the three places available at the Irish Open or next week's Scottish Open. 19659002] After a frustrating third round, McDowell hinted he would skip next week's European Tour event at the Gullane links but yesterday after some thought he had a change of heart.
"I may have changed my mind there slightly," McDowell said . "Last Chance Saloon."
Last Chance Saloon. Go home, mum's home-cooking, go to Portrush, recharge and get ready. I played pretty well at Gullane last time we were there. I just need to get focus and can get my head into it
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