Illonen takes Irish Open title
Finland’s Mikko Ilonen claimed his fourth European Tour title with a wire-to-wire victory in the Irish Open at Fota Island today.
Ilonen carded a final round of 70 to finish 13 under par, one shot ahead of Italy’s Edoardo Molinari, with Sweden’s Kristoffer Broberg and English duo Danny Willett and Matthew Baldwin another shot back in third.
Graeme McDowell had been hoping to claim a first professional victory in Ireland in front of the massive crowds in Cork, but struggled on the greens and had to settle for a closing 71 and a share of sixth with Magnus A Carlsson, his first top-10 finish in 13 appearances in the event.
“That was one of the worst putting rounds of my career (yesterday) and I continued today,” McDowell told Sky Sports.
"It was a great weekend, great crowd at the Irish Open and I’m just disappointed I couldn’t win it for them."
“It’s my best Irish Open finish ever, it was there for the taking to be honest... but well, there you go," McDowell continued.
"It was special reception here on this great course.”
29,387 fans packed into @fotaisland today, and a total attendance for the week is 104,810. Thanks to all who came down! #2014IrishOpen
— Amgen Irish Open (@IrishOpen_) June 22, 2014
Ilonen established a new course record of 64 in the opening round and although that only lasted until Willett, aided by a hole-in-one, shot 63 on Saturday, the 34-year-old Finn took a one-shot lead into the final round.
Birdies on the second and fourth took Ilonen three clear of the field until Willett carded his second birdie of the day on the ninth, but that was as close as anyone got until Ilonen dropped his only shot of the day on the last, ironically after hitting an iron off the tee for safety.
“I was thinking about winning this tournament from midday Thursday," Ilonen told Sky Sports.
“It was hard work to try and keep the focus.”
“I played good enough to make some birdies, but I didn’t, so its very pleasing to take this win.”
.@MikkoIlonen led wire to wire to claim his fourth @EuropeanTour victory. Well done Mikko! #2014IrishOpen pic.twitter.com/6cImlLmyvq
— Amgen Irish Open (@IrishOpen_) June 22, 2014
Molinari finished second place and secured qualification for the British Open, carding 67 for a four-under-par final round and -12 in total.
Third place was shared between Sweden Kristoffer Broberg and Englishmen Matthew Baldwin and Danny Willett, who shot two under on par on Sunday and finished on -11.
England’s Ross Fisher posted the best score of the final round, carding seven birdies for a round of 65 and finishing eighth on nine under par.
Micheal Hoey hit six birdies and a bogey on the 14th to finish on a final score for Sunday of five under, leaving him nine under for the tournament.
Padraig Harrington built on his good weekend to post a final round score of eight under after recovering from bogeys at two and three too add six birdies.
Harrington’s Sunday round of 69 (two under) also saw a total of four bogeys, which passes Harrington’s best finish of 2014.
Peter Lawrie notched a two under par 69, for a final total of four par for the tournament, and Darren Clarke posted one over today and for the weekend.
John G Kelly posted a four over par 75 including three birdies and seven bogeys to finish at one over par for this year’s Open.
Gary Hurley, the only amateur to make the cut, carded a two over par 73 to finish eight over par for the tournament.
Irish Open Results from Golf and Course
