Raging Bull charges to Irish Open glory in record fashion

Spain’s Jon Rahm produced one of the greatest final-round performances in the history of the Irish Open to take another giant step towards the pantheon of golfing greats.

With a blustery Portstewart shrouded in a misty rain that was reminiscent of a grey winter’s afternoon in his hometown of Barrika on the stormy Bay of Biscay, the beefy 22-year-old Basque overcame a rules scare to win by six shots after an imperious seven-under-par final round of 65.

It would be churlish to dwell too long on his getting the benefit of the doubt from chief referee Andy McFee when he appeared to replace his ball in the wrong spot on the sixth green after moving his ball marker the width of a putter head to avoid marking in playing partner Daniel Im’s line.