IRISH EYES SMILE ON SOREN AS HE LIVES THE DREAM

THE luck at the Irish Open belonged firmly to Dane Soren Kjeldsen yesterday and deservedly so. He should have won the tournament in regulation play before prevailing at the first extra hole against young Englishman Eddie Pepperell and gifted Austrian Bernd Wiesberger. Pepperell’s consolation at the end of a bogey-free round of 69 to set the clubhouse target was earning a place in The Open, but he must have thought he was playing on as Kjeldsen pulled his short birdie putt to win. It looked for all the world like it would lip out but the ball travelled round the entire circumference of the hole before falling. Kjeldsen’s relief was written all over his face. He has just turned 40 and is fully entitled to draw upon that old cliche about life beginning at that age. ‘It’s amazing to think that three weeks ago I was 113th in the Race to Dubai and struggling,’ said Kjeldsen, who finished ninth and 18th in his two events before this victory. ‘I feel like I’m in a dream and I’m frightened someone might wake me up.’ Kjeldsen also earned one of the three Open spots that went to players finishing inside the top 10 who were not already exempt. The other one went to English colt Tyrrell Hatton. Richie Ramsay had gone into the final round only three shots off the lead but Prize guys: Kjeldsen receives his Irish Open trophy from tournament host McIlroy after the Dane came out on top following a three-way play-off a 77 saw the Scot finish in a share of 10th place. Kjeldsen received the trophy from tournament host Rory McIlroy, who attended the final day in the company of his American girlfriend Erica Stoll, 29, who works for the US PGA. McIlroy’s disappointment at missing the cut was tempered by the obvious success of the event. The leaderboard might have been devoid of big names and the weather inclement, but the final day was still a 20,000 sell-out while sponsors Dubai Duty Free have indicated they will sign on for next year. ‘I’m very proud we could put on a tournament as strong as this one here in Northern Ireland,’ said the world No 1, whose next tournament will be the US Open in a fortnight. Kjeldsen began with a two-stroke lead but that disappeared with two bogeys to start. With the leaders struggling, the chance was there for someone to post a score. Englishman Danny Willett eagled the last for a 68 for level par before Pepperell came through to beat that by two strokes. The 24-year-old has proved a classic ‘steady Eddie’, improving from 79th in the Race to Dubai in 2013 to 49th last year. This was his first top-three finish and there will surely be plenty more if he keeps his focus. All told, there were five English twentysomethings in the top 10, including former US Amateur champion Matt Fitzpatrick, who finished tied eighth in this event, which marked the first anniversary since the 20-year-old turned pro.