‘I just feel so lucky’ – Rory McIlroy shares touching moment with wife Erica after emotional victory
Rory McIlroy enjoyed a heartwarming reunion with his family after winning the Irish Open on Sunday.
The five-time major winner secured his first victory since completing the career Grand Slam.
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McIlroy saw off Joakim Lagergren on the third hole of their play-off at The K Club in County Kildare.
It came after the Northern Irishman had holed a stunning eagle putt on the 18th to pull level with Lagergen and force the play-off.
The 36-year-old had been strongly supported all week, with his victory met with rousing cheers from those watching on.
Speaking after his victory, he admitted: "I just feel so lucky that I get to do this in front of these people.
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"The support has been amazing all week. So happy I could play the way I did this week and get the win.
"I had a putt last year at (Royal County Down) to force a play-off with Rasmus (Hojgaard) and it just missed on the high side, so it felt like (the eagle at the 18th) was a little bit of redemption.
"I wanted to be aggressive with it - such a cool feeling, cool moment for that to go in, and that gave me a chance in the play-off.
"It just felt like it was who was going to blink first. Joakim hit a poor second shot in on that play-off hole and that opened the door for me, and I'm just so happy to win my second Irish Open."
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McIlroy narrowly missed out on a second Irish Open title in 2024, finishing one shot behind winner Rasmus Hojgaard.
However, he has now finally added to his previous victory nine years ago, which also came at The K Club.
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The Ryder Cup star was also greeted by his wife Erica Stoll and their daughter after the victory.
Footage from the course showed the moment they reunited following the trophy presentation.
McIlroy can be seen smiling after spotting his family before lifting his daughter into the air.
He has been married to Stoll since 2017, with the couple welcoming their daughter three years later.
McIlroy will now be hoping to carry his success on home soil into this week's BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
He added: "To do what I did earlier in the year and then to come home and win my national Open, no matter what happens for the rest of the year, that's a pretty cool year - 2025's going to be one of the best, if not the best, of my career.
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"But we're not finished yet, I've got a big week next week at Wentworth (the BMW PGA Championship) and then obviously everybody's looking forward to the Ryder Cup."
The event is another which saw him come agonisingly close to victory last year, losing to Billy Horschel in a play-off.
McIlroy has one previous victory at the BMW PGA Championship, which came back in 2014.
He heads into the tournament with 20 DP World Tour victories to his name after his win in Ireland.
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The event this coming weekend will be his last before heading to Bethpage Black for the Ryder Cup.
McIlroy will be part of Team Europe for the 45th edition of the tournament between September 26 and 28.