Rory McIlroy donates €666k Irish Open prize to charity

An emotional Rory McIlroy said donating his €666,000 winner’s prize to charities made his first Dubai Duty Free Irish Open victory even more special.

McIlroy, 27, secured a three-shot victory to win his national open at the tenth time of asking, but it was his role as tournament host that brought the Irishman close to tears, as he waited to sink the final putt.

The four-time major winner, and world number-three, become a host of the European Tour event 12 months ago, on behalf of his Rory Foundation, and having sealed victory over Scotland’s Russell Knox, and Wales’s Bradley Dredge, at the K Club, he donated his winnings, to be divided between the foundation’s nominated local children’s charities, Barretstown, the Jack and Jill Foundation, and the Laura Lynn Children’s Hospice.