Rory McIlroy powers through closing holes to realise Irish Open dream

From a childhood dream sparked in the skies over Portmarnock, Rory McIlroy was back in the clouds last night as it came to realisation with a first Dubai Duty Free Irish Open victory.

He may have already won four major titles, two World Golf Championships and a couple of Tour Championships but on the soggy fairways of the K Club yesterday came something that went a little deeper.

Maybe not quite as special as all of the above but a ticked box that is special nonetheless, a national open on home soil that has been a long time in the dreaming for the 27-year-old and more acutely given a recent run of three missed cuts in the event.