Norrman soars to Irish title
Vincent Norrman gave Sweden a second straight winner on the European tour when he shot 7-under-par 65 to capture the Irish Open title Sunday in Straffan, Ireland, as Rory McIlroy faltered in the final round by hitting into the water on three holes.
A week after 23-year-old Ludvig Aberg produced a stunning finish to win the European Masters in Switzerland and help secure a spot on Europe’s Ryder Cup team, the 25-yearold Norrman produced a similar late flourish at The K Club to earn his second victory in two months — after the Barbasol Championship in July — and underscore the talent emerging from Sweden.
Play was delayed for about 90 minutes because of bad weather soon after the leading groups teed off, with McIlroy at that stage in a four-way share of the lead at 12 under.
His bid for a second title at his home event, after 2016, tottered when he found water off wedge shots from the middle of the fairway at Nos. 7 and 11. By the time McIlroy went into the water twice at No. 16 in shooting triple-bogey 8, Norrman had already posted a target — 14 under — that none of his remaining title contenders such as Hurly Long of Germany (72) and Ryan Fox of New Zealand (70) could match.
Norrman won by one stroke over Long to give himself two titles in just 14 appearances on the European Tour. He is set to more than halve his world ranking and potentially climb to No. 76.
“I think I was a little lucky — it was a long wait but I am super happy,” said Norrman. “If you are winning, you are doing something good. It’s a worldclass event and honestly I can’t believe this happened.”
Shane Lowry (68) finished in a tie for third with Fox, Grant Forrest (70), and Thriston Lawrence (66) in a confidenceboosting performance ahead of the Ryder Cup. McIlroy closed with a 74 and was tied for 16th. LPGA — Minjee Lee lost a fiveshot lead on the back nine and recovered at just the right time, hitting wedge to 2 feet for birdie to beat Charley Hull on the second playoff hole in the Kroger Queen City Championship for her ninth LPGA title.
Lee, a two-time major champion, won for the first time this year after closing with a 1-under 71. It was her second playoff victory on the LPGA Tour, and she never imagined it would get to that point.
The 27-year-old Australian seized control early and led Hull by five through 10 holes. Six holes later, they were tied.
Lee led by four on the par-5 12th, with Hull already having hit her second shot into the water. Lee decided to go for the green with a fairway metal, and she pulled it so far left that it went out of bounds, leading to a double bogey.
Hull dropped only a shot, cutting the deficit to three, and then made birdie putts on the 14th, 15th, and 16th holes to catch Lee.
Playing the 18th again after both parred the first playoff hole, Lee’s wedge ran up the ridge and settled 2 feet from the hole. Hull’s 15-foot birdie putt to extend it missed to the left. Champions — Steve Flesch shot 6 under on the first six holes, and added three birdies on the back nine to card a tournament-record 62 to finish at 19 under and overtake the field at the Ascension Charity Classic in St. Louis.