Rory McIlroy Wins European Tour Shot of the Year

Rory McIlroy wins European Tour Shot of the Year for 2016 with his approach to the final green during the Irish Open in May

Rory McIlroy Wins European Tour Shot of the Year
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Rory McIlroy wins European Tour Shot of the Year for 2016 with his approach to the final green during the Irish Open in May

Rory McIlroy Wins European Tour Shot of the Year

Rory McIlroy's stunning five wood into the K Club's final green during the Irish Open has been voted the European Tour's best shot of 2016.

Rory told the European Tour: "I actually thought I hit my drive too far left, I thought it had ran out. But it was playing a lot longer than it had been playing the previous couple of days.

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"I had a good yardage. I had 222 to the front, 256 to the pin. And I had a similar shot in the Pro-Am, actually.

"JP tried to get me to hit a four iron, and it was a similar wind, as well, but I felt like I was trying to hit it too hard.

"So I actually dropped another ball in the Pro-Am and hit five wood, a very similar shot to what I hit.

"I didn't know I would need it at the end of the week but there you go."

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Fans voted throughout December, with McIlroy’s shot receiving nearly a third of all votes.

The final standings in Shot of the Year voting:

1. Rory McIlroy - Dubai Duty Free Irish Open 2. Scott Hend - Shenzhen International

3. Brett Rumford - ISPS HANDA Perth International

4. Lasse Jensen - Nedbank Golf Challenge hosted by Gary Player

5. Andy Sullivan - 100th Open de France

6. Sergio Garcia - BMW International Open

7. Kristoffer Broberg - Lyonness Open powered by Sporthilfe Cashback Card

8. James Morrison - BMW PGA Championship

9. Rickie Fowler - Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship

10. Robert Karlsson - Made in Denmark

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Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He covered the 2022 and 2025 Masters from Augusta National and was there by the 18th green to watch Rory McIlroy complete the career grand slam. He has also covered five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews.