September 16, 2024 – Rasmus Højgaard holed out twice as he pipped local favourite Rory McIlroy to win the Amgen Irish Open at Royal County Down. McIlroy looked on course to claim his first professional win on home soil when he led by two shots with four holes to play at a venue just an hour from where he grew up.

However Højgaard had other ideas, as he completed a superb closing 65 with four birdies in the last five holes to claim his fifth DP World Tour title, move to second in the Race to Dubai Rankings, and to the top of the European Ryder Cup standings.

World Nº3 McIlroy had taken a one-shot lead into the final round and made the ideal start with birdies on the first and second. With playing partner Matteo Manassero then dropping shots on the third and fourth, McIlroy briefly enjoyed a four-shot lead before making a bogey on the seventh after failing to get up and down from left of the green.

He then missed from inside ten feet for birdie on both the eighth and the ninth as Højgaard kickstarted his challenge with an outrageous chip-in for birdie on the tenth.

A birdie on the 11th edged McIlroy two in front again, but that advantage was wiped out as Højgaard birdied the 16th and McIlroy bogeyed the 15th. Højgaard then dramatically holed out from a greenside bunker on the 17th and, although McIlroy drew level with a birdie on the 16th, the four-time Major winner charged his birdie putt on the 17th past the hole and missed the return. Højgaard’s third birdie in a row on the 18th meant McIlroy needed to make an eagle on the same hole to force a play-off and a towering approach from 191 yards gave him a chance from 15 feet, only for the eagle putt to slide just wide.

Rasmus Højgaard becomes the fourth Danish winner of the Amgen Irish Open, following in the footsteps of Søren Hansen, Thomas Bjørn and Søren Kjeldsen, who also lifted the trophy at Royal County Down years ago.

Callaway Staffer Rasmus Hojgaard captured his 5th win on the DPWT  at the Amgen Irish Open playing the Ai Smoke Triple Diamond driver and fairway wood.

With OPUS wedges in the bag, Hojgaard’s short game was on fire; after a pitch-in at the 10th, he then birdied the 14th, 16th, 17th and 18th to set the clubhouse target at nine-under, with 4 birdies in the final 5 holes. 

What’s in the golf bag of Rasmus Hojgaard?

 

• Driver: Callaway Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (10.5º, Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Blue 60-TX)
• Fairway Wood : Callaway Ai Smoke Triple Diamond U 3 (15º)  
• Irons : Callaway Apex Pro ‘24 (3); Callaway X Forged ‘24 (4-PW)
• Wedges : Callaway OPUS (52º/10ºS, 56º/12ºS and 60º/8ºC)
• Putter: Odyssey Ai-ONE Milled Eight T DB      
• Golf Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour X  

Short Game Magic with OPUS wedges. 

Whilst Ramus’ sensational short game play over the final 9 holes contributed to his win, the new OPUS wedges have also contributed to three major victories in 2024, and were in the bag of 30 players at the Amgen Irish Open with a total of 70 in play. 

Odyssey is the #1 Putter at the Amgen Irish Open 

Odyssey dominated the putter count once again, with 76 Odyssey putters in play (48.7% of the field). 

The Ai-ONE putter range is one of the most played on tour since its release last year, with multiple models proving popular, including the Ai-One Milled range of which Rasmus was playing the Eight T DB.