“I’m getting used to it,” says Rory McIlroy as his career is derailed for the first time by a heartbreaking Irish Open defeat

Rory McIlroy wasted the opportunity to win on home soil for the first time as Rasmus Hojgaard claimed victory at the Irish Open.

This year’s competition was held at the Royal County Down Golf Club, the same county in which McIlroy was born in.

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He led the scoring on the fourth and final day and showed strength in his opening holes on Sunday.

However, his performance late in the second half proved costly for McIlroy as he made two bogeys as Hojgaard gained ground.

The former was ahead by two strokes on the last four holes, but suffered a bogey on the 17th hole as the latter caught up.

McIlroy needed to eagle the final hole to force a play-off, but that didn’t happen as his shot went wide.

It means he is yet to secure a professional win in Northern Ireland and has suffered a second disappointment in 2024.

McIlroy led the US Open with five holes to play in June but lost for Bryson DeChambeau and extend his wait for a big prize to ten years.

He admitted the next day that he was ‘probably the hardest’ day of his golf career.

“Unfortunately, I’m getting used to it this year,” a disappointed McIlroy said after the injury on Sunday.

“I hope the tide will change soon and I can turn all these difficult situations into victories.

“I have to say that roar when I fired the second shot on 18 was pretty cool. The support I’ve gotten out there this week has been absolutely incredible. I certainly don’t take that for granted.

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“I had to try to keep my composure walking up to the 18th green there. I wish I could play in front of those fans and that atmosphere every week.

“From where I was at the beginning of the week and what I wanted to do, it’s a step in the right direction. You know, if anything, it just whets my appetite even more for Portrush [the Open Championship] next year.”

Hojgaard’s performance was much more impressive on Sunday afternoon, when he birdied four of the last five holes.

The victory secured a fifth DP World Tour title for the 23-year-old and he is only the second Dane to win the Irish Open since Soren Kjeldsen.