STRAFFAN, Ireland — Vincent Norrman gave Sweden a second straight winner on the DP World Tour when he shot a 7-under-par 65 to win the Irish Open on Sunday, while Northern Ireland’s 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-year-old Norrman produced a similar late flourish at the K Club to earn his second victory in two months — after the PGA Tour co-sanctioned Barbasol Championship in mid-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 the 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 while shooting a triple-bogey 8, Norrman had already posted a target — 14-under 274 — that none of his fellow contenders, including Germany’s Hurly Long (72) and New Zealand’s Ryan Fox (70), could match.
Norrman won by one stroke over Long to give himself two titles in just 14 appearances on the European circuit. He is set to more than halve his place in the Official World Golf Ranking and potentially climb to No. 76.