Norrman saves the best for last to emerge shock winner of $6m Irish Open

Armed with a red-hot putter, Sweden’s Vincent Norrman came from behind to win the $6 million Horizon Irish Open on another day of good weather at The K Club, in Co. Kildare, Ireland.

The Swede saved his best for the last, firing a blistering seven-under 65 for a 72-hole total of 14 under par in the DP World Tour event.

The 25-year-old Norrman, who teed off in Sunday’s final round in 21st place, swiftly climbed 20 spots up the leaderboard as players faltered in good conditions all around him — although there were some selected good scoring, but again not by the leaders.

There was a short weather delay with players taken off the golf course during the afternoon with the threat of thunder and lightning.

Preferred lies were again in operation as has been the case all week over the 7,441 yards, par 72 layout. The leading score after two rounds was 13 under par and remarkably only one player bettered that score two rounds later – and that was Norrman.

Last Wednesday, the Swede who is ranked 158th in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR), was the winner of Barbasol Championship, co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour, at the Keene Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville, Kentucky.

The Irish Open is his second career victory on the DP World Tour.

“I think I was a little lucky - it was a long wait but I am super happy,” said Norrman, who turned pro in 2021.

“If you are winning, you are doing something good. It's a world-class event and honestly, I can't believe this has happened.”

Not surprisingly. He had a round of seven birdies and no bogeys to claim a one-shot victory from third-round leader Germany’s Hurley Long

A summary of his week at the K Club saw him claim just four bogeys and a double over his 72 holes, a performance that moved him up 35 spots to number seven in the Race to Dubai Rankings.

Second place on his own went 28-year-old Long who started the week in 150th in the Race to Dubai Rankings and 252nd in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).

This result looks like ensuring that he will retain his DP World Tour card after rising to 37th in the ranking list after a very poor year where he finished 22nd in the season table in 2022.

This also looks likely to get him in the field in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship at the Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai, in November.

There was a four-way tie for third, a further one shot back of Long including Ireland’s Shane Lowry and the fast-finishing South African Thriston Lawrence who had a last-round 66.

Rory McIlroy, Number One on the Race to Dubai and Number Two in the OWGR, struggled again with his game – especially today in mid-round.