Vincent Norrman Claims Horizon Irish Open Title In Dramatic Final Day

Hello and welcome to Golf Monthly's live coverage of the final round of the Horizon Irish Open. After a tightly contested Saturday, it's Hurly Long who leads by just one shot going into the final day.

Currently, several players are within a few shots and, with 18 holes remaining, it's set to be a close Sunday at the K Club. Can Long hold on to claim a first DP World Tour title, or will someone from the chasing pack overtake him? Tune in to find out!

LEADERS ALMOST UNDERWAY

As the final remaining groups head out on to the course we have already seen a number of low scores today. Billy Horschel, who is looking to pick up his first win since June 2022, has started brightly with a birdie at the opening hole. Yesterday, the American fired a 66 to vault up the leaderboard and will be looking for much of the same today.

Elsewhere, it's just 15 minutes before the final trio of Hurly Long, Jordan Smith and Rory McIlroy start their final round, with a huge crowd set to be following the group at the K Club.

GET TO KNOW THE LEADER

Hurly Long is hoping to secure his first DP World Tour victory today and, in this piece, we have taken a look at the young German. Will he claim his first title on the DP World Tour circuit? We will soon find out!

BACK TO BACK BIRDIES FOR HORSCHEL

Is Billy Horschel mounting a charge? Well, after opening with a birdie he has just made yet another gain at the second, with the American holing an 11-footer. He's two-under through two and now just two shots back of Long.

BIG NAMES CHARGING

This leaderboard is starting to take shape! Along with Horschel, Shane Lowry, Min Woo Lee, Adrian Meronk and Guido Migliozzi have all started brightly, with all four under-par through the early few holes. Lowry and Lee sit at -10, while Meronk and Guido are at -9, just outside the top 10.

EARLY BIRDIE FOR RORY

Well, that didn't take long! Rory McIlroy fires an absolute dart at the opening hole to just four-feet, with the Northern Irishman holing the birdie putt to move within one shot of Long.

TIED AT THE TOP

Multiple players are under-par for the final round, with Ryan Fox and Grant Forrest making birdies at the par 3 third to move to -11. In the final group, Long has just bogeyed the second to move back to -12 and in a share of the lead with McIlroy. Currently, four shots cover the top 27 players!

HORSCHEL JOINS THE LEADERS

It's all action here in Ireland! After a stellar start, Horschel has just made his third birdie in four holes to move into a share of the lead alongside Long and McIlroy. Chaotic start in the final round!

POOR START FROM SMITH

Whilst many are under-par for their final rounds, Jordan Smith has not enjoyed his start. Bogeying the second, he short sides himself with his tee shot on the third, with the Englishman failing to get up-and-down. He's +2 through three, but still only two back of the leaders...

LEE JOINS THE LEADERS

We briefly have a four-way tie for the lead, as Min Woo Lee birdies the fifth hole for his third birdie of the day. Just as he does that, Horschel makes his first bogey of the day as he slips back to -11. He is now one back of the leaders.

PLAY SUSPENDED

Well, just as we see a four-way tie at the top of the leaderboard, play has now been suspended due to lightning in the area. It's unclear as to how long the delay will be, but currently Lee, Forrest, McIlroy and Long share the lead at -12, with Horschel and Fox one back at -11.

EARLY UPDATE

Well, as there's a delay, it's best to update you all on what has happened on an incredibly busy start to the final day. Currently, we have a four way tie at -12, with Long (+1), McIlroy (-1), Forrest (-2) and Lee (-3) all vying for the outright lead. 

Behind them is Horschel (-2) and Fox (-1), who sit one back, whilst Marcel Schneider (-1), Shubhankar Sharma (E) and Smith (+2) are two back. It is close but, currently, the rain is chucking it down in Ireland. Unclear as to when we will be back, but it's likely not to be for a while... 

NO UPDATES... YET

We are yet to hear of any updates of when play may resume. Obviously, we will keep you updated once we hear of any news, but for now, it seems play will continue to be delayed.

COURSE INSPECTION

According to those on the ground, the course is being inspected, with Sky Sports claiming that we may have some golf "at 3pm". Fingers crossed that is the case, it's shaping up to be an exciting final day.

HURRAH! PLAY TO RESUME

Just as I pushed send on that post, it has been revealed that play will indeed get back underway at 3pm local time (BST). Superb!

PLAYERS ON THE RANGE

Players have made their way out on to the range, with play getting under way in 25 minutes. Certainly, after the heavy downpour, these tight pins will be more accessible. Expect some interesting scoring when play resumes.

RAIN CONTINUES TO FALL

Although the lightning appears to have gone, the rain looks here to stay for a while. This makes the need to hit fairways crucial, especially given the amount of rain that has fallen over the past 90 minutes.

CONDITIONS UPDATE

Just how wet is it out there in Ireland? Well, this video should give you an idea!

BACK UNDERWAY

Players are back in position and the rain has actually stopped! First up, it's Ryan Fox to get us started, as he rolls in a short birdie putt to join the leaders at -12. After that, both McIlroy and Long are around the green at the par 5 fourth; expect one of those to birdie from there and move into the outright lead.

LONG AND MCILROY BIRDIE

Both Long and McIlroy convert their birdie putts after excellent third shots from around the green. The duo move to -13, with Long level-par for the day and McIlroy -2 through four. There are still 29 players within five strokes of the lead!

SYME IN FORM

Currently, Connor Syme is the in form player on the course, with the Scot -5 for his round. He has birdied five of his last seven holes and his birdie attempt at the 12th just missed. He is -10 for the tournament, so will need to carry on his red-hot form if he is to catch up with those at -13.

NEAR MISSES

The leaders are currently in the difficult portion of the front nine and, understandably, the birdies have dried up slightly, especially as they've just returned to the course. Despite this, Long and McIlroy see their lengthy birdie attempts just miss at the fifth, with Lee and Horschel making huge par saves at the difficult par 4 seventh.

MORE HUGE PAR SAVES

Although they're not birdie putts, we have seen a number of huge par saves, with Ryan Fox making an up-and-down on the sixth to remain one back. It's a similar story for Forrest, who also holes from six-foot to stay one back.

Back up the fairway, McIlroy does well to find the green from thick rough, whilst Jordan Smith's struggles continue as he pulls a wild iron shot left from the fairway. Out of the group, it's Long who hits the best approach, with the German around 15-feet away for birdie.

HORSCHEL GOING BACKWARDS

It was such a bright start from Horschel, but two scrappy bogeys on the fifth and eighth have seen him drop to -10 and three back. Elsewhere, Vincent Norrman is enjoying a fine day, with the Swede making four birdies in five holes to get to -11 and two back.

MCILROY FINDS THE WATER

Wow! After finding the middle of the fairway at the par 4 seventh, McIlroy hits an awful shot from 150-yards which doesn't even come close to finding the green. Likelihood is that McIlroy will make bogey, at best, with both Smith and Long safely finding the green following their partner's mishap.

INCREDIBLE 5 MINUTES

Well, where do we start with the past five minutes?! After finding the water, McIlroy can only make a double bogey and drops into a seven-way tie for fifth. Long, on the other hand, just misses his birdie attempt, with the German being joined by Ryan Fox now at the top of the leaderboard. 

Along with the duo, Vincent Norrman and Grant Forrest are still one shot back, with Billy Horschel and Min Woo Lee finding birdies to get to -11 and two back. In that group we also have Shane Lowry, who is -3 for his day.

NORRMAN MOVES LEVEL

Vincent Norrman's charge continues as he moves into a share of the lead alongside Ryan Fox. The Swede is -6 for the day and -13 for the tournament, with Norrman looking to claim the biggest win of his career.

Overnight leader, Hurly Long, has just missed a par putt on the eighth to drop to -12 and one shot back, whilst Min Woo Lee has just made a tap in birdie at the 10th to get to -11. Still anyone's to play for here!

LOWRY MAKING A MOVE

He's been steadily making his way up the leaderboard and now Shane Lowry is just one shot back following three birdies in four holes. He is -4 for the day and -12 for the tournament.

Further back, Hurly Long has just holed a beauty of a birdie putt to get back into a share of the lead with Norrman and Fox. He turns in level-par for the front nine and, with the par 5 10th coming up, he could take back the lead.

TIGHT AT THE TOP

Currently, 17 players are within three shots of the lead, with Norrman the lowest scorer out on the course. Looking to pick up a second title of 2023, the young Swede seems to be the most likely, but there are a number of huge names still in contention.

FORREST JOINS THE LEADERS

It's difficult to keep up with all this movement! We did have a three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard, but now, following a birdie at the 10th, Grant Forrest has now joined the party. He's -3 today and looking for a second DP World Tour title.

CLASSY PUTTING ON SHOW

Some of the par saves made today have been outrageous! This is just one of the examples from Lowry, with the Major winner still in contention as he looks to claim his national open! 

MIN WOO LEE THRILLS CROWD

Big-hitting Min Woo Lee has a big following these days as a very popular player on tour. He gave the fans some excitement on the 13th with a bold low shot through the trees after debating the merits of chipping out sideways. Min Woo opted the take the shot on but left the ball in the rough alas

McILROY'S ROUND IMPLODES WITH A SECOND TRIP INTO WATER 

Oh no more disaster for Rory who went in the drink earlier in the round as he fell away from the top of the leaderboard. Now it has happened again at the 11th when he had 136 yards to the pin

GRANT FORREST ALSO GOES IN THE WATER

Scotland's Grant Forrest slides down the leaderboard after also going in the water. The pressure is starting to tell at the top

AND THEN THERE WERE TWO

A short missed putt for Ryan Fox on the 12th leaves just Vincent Norman and Hurly Long at the top of the leaderboard as players like Jordan Smith blow chances to draw level

PAUL MCGINLEY MAKES DAMNING ASSESSMENT OF RORY

Rory McIlroy has put two shots in the water this round and it is affecting his confidence according to analyst Paul McGinley. He studied his Irish compatriot's safe shot to middle of the par 12th and concluded Rory is suffering a lack of confidence 

DOUBLE BOGEY FOR JORDAN SMITH 

Smith's challenge appears to be faltering badly and could be over after he finds the water and make a double bogey five on the short par 3 12th

HURLY LONG HAS SOLE LEAD

Germany's Hurly Long is into the lead on his own at -14 after a bold approach to the par 3 12th over the water left him a 12 foot putt which he rolled in for birdie

VINCENT NORRMAN SETS CLUBHOUSE TARGET

Sweden's Vincent Norrman has holed out at the final green for a birdie and a final round 65 to get to -14. He looks at the leaderboard to see if it will be enough which looks a Long shot right now with more getable holes ahead for the likes of co leader Hurly

TROUBLE FOR HURLY ON THE 13TH

Co-leader Long missed the fairway left at the 13th and hit the trees attempting his rescue shot. The German is not looking convincing under pressure here with a lot of deliberating over shots but his third shot was impressive to give himself a par putt

McILROY GETS BACK TO LEVEL PAR DESPITE WATER TROUBLES

Rory makes a birdie at the 13th to get back to level par for the day after going in the water twice earlier

NORRMAN STARTING TO HOPE HIS -14 TOTAL MAYBE ENOUGH

The Swedish pro is now in the lead on his own in the clubhouse after Hurly Long's bogey on 13th. The Swede, 25, says he is going to have a coffee and watch the action unfold as he waits to learn if he will be needed in a play-off.

HURLY LONG STARTS TO FALL AWAY

Germany's Long has been fighting a regular miss left today and takes another bogey on the 14th after missing the green on the left. That is a second successive bogey as he drops back to -12

BIG CHEERS FOR IRELAND'S SHANE LOWRY HAS HE FINISHES

Home player Shane Lowry gets plenty of cheers as he putts out for a four-under round with a birdie to get to -12 as he starts to show more welcome form ahead of the Ryder Cup after his controversial wildcard ahead of Adrian Meronk

RORY NEEDS ANOTHER BIG FINISH

McIlroy famously won the Scottish Open with back to back birdies down the tough final two holes and he is going to need something special here too now. He is three back with three holes left but the 16th and 18th are par fives so it is not over

WATER AGAIN FOR RORY

For the third time today McIlroy has found water! A real case for what could have been for the Northern Irishman, who fires his fourth shot long of the green and almost into the grandstand on the other side... 

NEAREST CHALLENGER STRUGGLING

Ryan Fox is the only player within one stroke of leader, Norrman; however, at the 17th hole he pulls his tee shot left into the trees. From there, his approach shot flies right and he will face a 60-yard pitch from the rough. Got to think he needs to make an up-and-down here to have any chance of a playoff, or victory.

WATER FOR A FOURTH TIME

Well, just after McIlroy finds water with his approach, he goes long with his fourth and finds water again! Dropping in a part of the course that even I can't locate, he finds the greenside bunker and will be playing his seventh shot. A real contrast to his iconic finish back in 2016.

NORRMAN LEADS BY TWO

Ryan Fox is unable to convert his par putt after a good pitch. The New Zealander will need an eagle at the par 5 last to force a playoff. It has been playing -0.54 under-par, but there really haven't been many eagles there today...

Away from Fox, McIlroy is able to get up-and-down from the bunker, with the four time Major winner making an eight to drop to -8 and into a tie for 23rd.

VINCENT NORRMAN WARMS UP AT THE RANGE

Clubhouse leader Norrman, from Sweden, is on the range going through his shots. He has a two shot lead at present and is awaiting to learn his fate

LONG BATTLING FOR TOUR CARD AS WELL AS TITLE

Vincent Norrman is closing in on his second DP World Tour victory as he sits in the clubhouse at -14. Hurly Long at -12 is the only player out on the course who can realistically catch him and the German is 150th in the Race to Dubai standings and is battling for his card for next season too.

LONG NEEDS AN EAGLE AT THE LAST TO FORCE A PLAY-OFF

Long makes a par at the 17th out of the trees and now needs a eagle to force a play-off or a birdie to clinch a runner-up spot and take a massive step towards keeping his card

LONG FINDS MIDDLE OF 18TH GREEN IN TWO TO SET-UP PLAY-OFF PUTT

Hurly Long has put his approach to the par 5 18th into the middle of the green to leave himself a very long eagle putt to try and force a play-off with Vincent Norrman. His playing partner Rory McIlroy is back in tied 22nd after a shocking round of three-over with several shots into the water.

VICTORY CONFIRMED FOR NORRMAN AFTER NO-ONE CATCHES HIM

Hurly Long's birdie at the last secured him a lucrative runner-up spot but his failure to get an eagle saw Norrman crowned victor as the Swede finally learnt no-one could overhaul him.