THE Majors are what everybody will always focus on when it comes to Rory McIlroy; the back nine collapse at the 2011 Masters still gets the odd airing, so too the other days when contention came and went, while the pain of Pinehurst remains front and centre in the rearview mirror five months on.
But missing out on this Irish Open will sting, and it will do so for a while.
Four shots clear earlier in the round, overnight leader McIlroy started in a manner that suggested he wasn’t going to let this one slip. Buoyed by a huge crowd following his every move at Royal County Down, all the pieces were in place.
Rasmus Hojgaard, however, had other ideas.
Fellow Dane Soren Kjeldsen claimed the Irish Open crown last time it was held in Newcastle nine years earlier, and Hojgaard crept up late on to blindside McIlroy, birdying four of the last five holes as the Holywood man let two shots slip in a dramatic finish.
By the time he came to the par five 18th, McIlroy needed an eagle – but, despite an incredible drive, and an even better approach, the hordes that surrounded him could not suck the ball into the hole.
The hurt from the US Open is still raw, missing out on an Olympic medal an added frustration, and the completion of that hat-trick on home soil, particularly the manner in which it came, felt cruel.
“Unfortunately I’m getting used to it this year,” he said, “hopefully the tide is going to turn pretty soon, and I can turn all these close calls into victories.
“I felt like I was in control of the tournament for most of the day, felt like I was playing really solid, doing what I needed to do, making a lot of pars, making the odd birdie.
“Then obviously the two bogeys on 15 and 17 opened the door for someone to have a good finish like what Rasmus did there on the last few holes… yeah, unfortunately I played well this week, missing the green right on 15 was the place that you can’t go. And I just misjudged the speed with the first putt on 17.”
The aim is to bounce back at this week’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth but, even as McIlroy uttered those words moments after suffering another disappointment, they sounded hollow. How could they not?
Looking longer-term though, being back in Ireland, back on a links course, has already lit the fire ahead of next year’s Open in Portrush.
“I must say, I’ve never… that roar when I hit that second shot on 18 was pretty cool. The support I got out there this week was absolutely amazing - I’ve had a great time being home, it’s been too long. I need to keep coming back more often.
“From where I was at the start 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 next year.”
As for Hojgaard – a Ryder Cup contender for Bethpage Black next year – he showed his steel to ignore what was happening behind him on the course and heap the pressure on McIlroy.
“It feels pretty good,” said the 23-year-old.
“There was a lot of nerves coming down the stretch, especially watching Rory finishing off… I’m obviously gutted for him, not to win at home. But I’m delighted for myself.
“It’s a big confidence boost - I knew it was going to be hard to battle with him and the rest of the guys out there. Obviously seeing he made a bogey there on 17 changed everything.
“But again, it was tight all the way down to the last putt. So yeah, it’s a great boost for me for the rest of the year.”
