World number two Rory McIlroy faces an uphill battle to regain the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play title after losing to Soren Kjeldsen in their opening group match in Austin.

Dubai Duty Free Irish Open defending champion Soren Kjeldsen has every reason to look back at last year’s Royal County Down victory with fondness. The Dane credits his victory as marking a pivotal moment in his career.

You would be forgiven for not recognising many of the players on top of the leaderboard going into the Irish Open final round yesterday.

Soren Kjeldsen overcame a nervy sudden-death play-off and some insecurity about his future on the European Tour to win the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open. 

Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen won the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open in dramatic circumstances after looking to have let a fourth European Tour victory slip from his grasp.