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Jon Rahm wins second Irish Open in three years in Lahinch

Jon Rahm has claimed the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open title for the second time in three years. The...



Jon Rahm wins second Irish Ope...
Golf

Jon Rahm wins second Irish Open in three years in Lahinch

Jon Rahm has claimed the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open title for the second time in three years.

The Spaniard shot an eight-under-par final round of 62 to propel him to 16-under overall, replicating what he achieved at Portstewart in County Derry two years ago where he won by six shots.

Austrian Bernd Wiesberger and England's Andy Sullivan finished in a tie for second place on 14-under par.

Rahm's compatriot Rafa Cabrera Bello led for much of the final round in Lahinch, however, began to slip away during the back nine. The Spaniard hit back-to-back bogeys on 10 and 11 to lose the lead and hit two more on 13 and 15 to finish on 12-under-par.

Speaking after the victory in a press conference, Rahm said, "I keep saying, I love this tournament. I love this country. I love the people. I feel like I'm at home when I come."

"My game was in great form, it just didn't show in the first two days - I couldn't hold a putt. The weekend was the complete opposite, putts rolling in from everywhere. I felt really confident, and I knew I could do something. I knew I had to do it to have a chance.

"I kept looking at the leaderboard and looking up, and after 10 I'm like 'okay, let's get a good run'. And that eagle on 12 just got me going.

"My target number was 15-under. I never thought I was going to shoot 16-under. Definitely thrilled with the back nine I had.

"Very excited to repeat, I think Seve was the only Spanish player to win this more than once, to join my name to that cup again is special. Probably one of my favourite trophies at home."

Cormac Sharvin from County Down ended his four days in Lahinch with a level-par 70, and seven shots back from the winner on nine-under-par, while Waterford's Robin Dawson ended on six-under-par overall.

Shane Lowry was the next best placed Irish player in a tie for 34th place on four-under. Speaking after his round, the Offaly man said: "It's been a great event. Obviously, I've really enjoyed my time on the golf course," adding that the staging meant it was "probably the best Irish Open I've played".

After being the first round leader, Pádraig Harrington shot two consecutive 73s on Friday and Saturday to leave him back from the rest of the field and ended the tournament on one-under.

The only other Irish player to make it to the weekend was Séamus Power from Waterford, who shot a two-over-par round on day four to finish the tournament on one-over.

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Clare Dubai Duty Free Golf Irish Open Lahinch