Pros advice

Watch: McIlroy sets up win with stunning 252-yard approach

Rory McIlroy sometimes hits shots that other golfers can only dream about.

The four-time Major winner definitely saved his best for last on his way to a first Irish Open victory.

McIlroy was just one ahead of Scotland’s Russell Knox with three to play but then birdied 16, while Knox three-putted, and then hit one of the shots of his career on 18.

From 252 yards he smoked a 5-wood to within three feet of the hole. The eagle gave him a 69 and a three-shot victory over Knox and a fast-finishing Bradley Dredge (66).

“It’s funny, I had the exact same distance in the pro-am and JP (Fitzgerald, his caddie) tried to get me to hit a four-iron but I didn’t like it.

“I felt like I was trying to hit it too hard, so I dropped another ball and hit a five-wood so I had some confidence knowing what I needed to do and pulled it off perfectly.”

It was no surprise to see it win the European Tour’s shot of the week.

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