Rory McIlroy rues another near-miss as Rasmus Hojgaard claims Irish Open title

Denmark’s 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 to claim 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 Hojgaard completed a superb closing 65 with four birdies in the last five holes – including three in a row from the 16th – McIlroy crucially three-putted the 17th and then agonisingly missed an eagle putt on the 18th to force a play-off.

Agony for Rory McIlroy.

Rasmus Højgaard wins the Amgen Irish Open