
Share
15th January 2017
01:13pm GMT

Chasing his 14th European Tour title and 23rd professional win, McIlroy had the honour on the 18th and found the rough to the left of the fairway. Englishman Storm, 251st in the world, found the centre of the fairway.
https://twitter.com/EuropeanTour/status/820611208722018305
They both made par and so had to return to the 18th tee for a second play-off hole.
Again McIlroy's drive was wayward, this time going right of the fairway. The nerves were beginning to show as Storm also went right, albeit a long way short of McIlroy's tee shot.
https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/820614209679532032
Despite this rotten lie, McIlroy produced a magical shot to spin the ball on to the green and give himself another shot at the title and a cheque for €164,409.
The cheers of "Rory! Rory! Rory!" were well-deserved after a shot that drew comparisons to Bubba Watson's recovery shot at the 2012 Masters.
https://twitter.com/EuropeanTour/status/820614898841309189
Both players against missed their birdie putts but saved par, hopped back in their buggies and bombed up the fairway for a third play-off hole.
https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/820616529624596480
Despite playing the same hole for a fourth time running, McIlroy again missed the fairway, finding the second cut on the right with his tee shot on third play-off. Storm, in contrast, planted his iron in the middle of the fairway.
Under another tree, McIlroy's hampered second shot stopped up short of a greenside bunker and, while he again had a long birdie putt, Storm had the advantage as the Northern Irishman was forced to chip over the bunker.
McIlroy pitched to within six feet to put pressure on Storm, whose birdie putt missed by centimetres.
However McIlroy missed his par putt and Storm claimed his first title in nine years.
McIlroy stays hungry. Bring on Augusta.Explore more on these topics:

Golf | SportsJOE
golf

Golf | SportsJOE
golf