Rory McIlroy began the day with the lead at the Irish Open, but costly mistakes down the stretch sealed his fate.

Outside of the major championships, a victory is a victory is a victory. Most of the time anyway. But every player on every tour has an event closest to his heart, the one he yearns to win, especially at a special time and place.

Rory McIlroy squandered the opportunity to win on home soil for the first time as Rasmus Hojgaard claimed victory in the Irish Open. This year’s competition was held at the Royal County Down