Mikko Ilonen got the trophy at the Irish Open; Edoardo Molinari and Danny Willett got something almost as good.
The Finn staved off late runs by a number of players to win the Irish Open Sunday with a 13-under 271, defeating Italy’s Molinari by a single stroke.
Molinari and Willett each earned a trip to the British Open thanks to their Top 3 finishes. Willett was one of three players to tie for third, but with the highest world ranking, he got the nod.
Ilonen gave Molinari an opening to force a playoff when he bogeyed No. 18 after parring 12 straight holes. Molinari birdied No. 18, but a bogey on No. 3 came back to haunt him as he came up one stroke short.
Willett finished tied for third at 11-under with fellow Brit Matthew Baldwin and Sweden’s Kristoffer Broberg.
Magnus Carlsson and Graeme McDowell finished tied for sixth at 10-under.
First-time pro Matthew Fitazpatrick closed the tournament at 5-under, tied for 29th. He shot a final-round 68, his best score of the tournament.
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