Ice-cool Ilonen completes wire-to-wire win

34-year-old now beside an illustrious winners’ list

A home win slipped from Ireland’s grasp at Fota Island as Graeme McDowell’s putter went cold but that was all that was missing from a successful 2014 Irish Open, won in impressive style by Finland’s Mikko Ilonen.

Big crowds the envy of Europe, glorious weather and a couple of Irish golfers in contention on the final day made for the perfect showcase for this still sponsor-less European Tour event but the crystal trophy found its rightful place in the hands of 34-year-old Ilonen. He had taken a stranglehold on the tournament on Thursday morning with an opening seven-under-par 64 and tightened his grip with every round for a thoroughly deserved wire-to-wire victory.