McIlroy still living teen dream

Rory McIlroy will seek his third straight top-five finish at this week’s Portugal Masters after another hugely impressive display in the Madrid Open.

McIlroy carded a final-round 70 at Club de Campo to finish five shots behind Denmark’s Mads Vibe-Hastrup, who fired a closing 67 to finish 16 under-par and claim the £103,000 (€147,000) first prize and two-year tour exemption.

The Northern Ireland teenager failed in his bid to become the youngest winner in European Tour history at 18 years and 163 days, but certainly proved his third place in the Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews a week earlier was no flash in the pan.

And the former European amateur champion coped admirably with the pressure of being labelled one of the pre-tournament favourites in just his third event as a professional.

“I would have taken fourth when I came here,” admitted McIlroy. “I think I have done well after all that has gone over the last few weeks.

“There was a lot to contend with so coming here and finishing in the top five is pretty good. That’s two good weeks in a row – I just hope to follow it on next week.

“Every time I got a birdie in the final round, I would give it away in the next couple of holes but I am very happy with the performance this week and that’s me probably into the top 100 on the Order of Merit now so I am happy. Onwards and upwards.”

Vibe-Hastrup had never finished higher than 110th on the Order of Merit before this year and had to regain his card through the “second division” Challenge Tour last season.

But the three-shot victory over Spain’s Alejandro Canizares lifted the 28-year-old into the top 60 on the money list and gives him a place in the season-ending Volvo Masters if he can stay there over the next two weeks.

“It’s fantastic,” said an emotional Vibe-Hastrup, the third Danish winner on tour this season.

“I have my card for two years now. Last year, I had to go back to the Challenge Tour and work hard on my game. I think I learnt a lot from that and to win this season is just amazing.

“I was a little nervous but I think I kept my emotions controlled and just tried to play my own game. When Daniel made his high score, it was nice to be in the lead but there was still a lot of golf to be played.”

That was a reference to overnight leader Daniel Vancsik running up a nine on the par-four fifth after pulling his second shot into heavy rough left of the green, although the Argentinian commendably recovered to claim third place with a birdie at the 18th.