Star Knox it in from 40ft for Irish title
was no doubting the comeback. By lap 11 Hamilton was up to sixth and back in the hunt.
Then when Sauber’s Marcus Ericsson skidded off with 19 laps left, Hamilton was handed another lifeline with a safety car.
This time his team, who had messed up the strategy so badly seven days before in Austria, got it right.
Opting to keep both cars out while the Ferraris pitted, it lifted them up to first and third with Vettel emerging just behind Bottas.
The Finn was unable to keep Vettel at bay as the four-time champ used his fresher tyres to sweep into the lead but Hamilton also overtook Bottas with ease to take the chequered flag just a couple of seconds behind. Hamilton said: “It was 100 per cent the right decision with the safety car. If I’d followed them in I’d have finished behind them.
“It was hard fighting guys with fresher tyres and in a perfect world I would have had brand-new tyres.
“I just had a poor getaway, I was too aggressive and got wheel spin, then I just got a tap from behind from the Ferrari and that was that.”
Vettel had his neck taped up having complained of a problem beforehand, but could not hide his delight at beating Hamilton in front of his fans.
“Here in their home,” he said in Italian to his team over the radio.
Later he said: “I was concerned if I could finish the race but with all the adrenaline going it was OK. The tape held and the race was fantastic.” Not Classified: SCOTLAND’S Russell Knox defeated Ryan Fox in a play-off to win the £5.3million Dubai Duty Free Irish Open in amazing fashion at Ballyliffin yesterday.
Knox holed from 40 feet across the 18th green for birdie to join Fox on 14 under par, with the New Zealander then missing from eight feet for a birdie of his own that would have won the title.
And when the players returned to the 18th for a sudden-death play-off the situation was repeated, with Knox holing from almost exactly the same spot for birdie before Fox saw his attempt from close range catch the edge of the hole and spin out.
“It’s tough to describe how amazing this feels,” said Knox. “Unbelievable. I can’t believe I’m holding the trophy.
“After I made eagle on the fourth I knew I was in it. The putts have been going in the last couple of weeks – I had a great feeling on the greens and I just kept going.”
Speaking about the two putts on the 18th, Knox said: “It’s why I play golf – all the practice, all the misses, all the bad moments are taken care of with putts like that.
“Making two of them from an almost identical position is obviously a bit of a bonus. I’m so happy. I said [on the play-off hole] we’ve already made this putt, it can’t be too difficult. I feel bad for Ryan but I guess it was my time.”
Spain’s Jorge Campillo finished a shot outside the play-off after a brilliant final round of 65, with defending champion Jon Rahm another stroke back following a remarkable 66 that included a triple-bogey and five birdies in the final six holes.
South Africa’s Erik van Rooyen began the day with a four-shot lead but struggled to a 74 to finish alongside Rahm on 12 under. Tournament host Rory McIlroy carded a closing 71 to finish two under par overall.
McIlroy’s closing round was a mix of four birdies, including a hat-trick from the 11th, but they were sandwiched in between a double-bogey on the fifth – a hole he played in four-over for the four days – and a bogey on 15.
McIlroy said: “There were improvements in my game over the weekend, definitely today. I’ve got a week to prepare now for the Open Championship and at least I know what to work on. Hopefully I’ll turn up to Carnoustie ready to go.”