Vincent Norrman secured a second DP World Tour title in just his 14th appearance after firing a flawless 65 in the weather-affected final round of the 2023 Horizon Irish Open to overcome a host of world-class challengers and win by a single stroke. Norrman began the day six shots off the lead but picked up six birdies in eight holes around the turn either side of a lengthy weather delay to surge into contention. And after pulling off some valuable par saves over the closing holes, the Swede completed his round with a close-range birdie on the 18th to set the clubhouse target at 14 under par. That was good enough for a share of the lead at the time, but with a large chasing pack - which included World Number Two Rory McIlroy - breathing down his neck several holes further back down the course, he faced an anxious wait to discover whether his total would be enough. With third-round leader Hurly Long - who had been locked alongside Norrman when he finished his round - slipping backwards on the stretch and no-one else able to get to 14 under, Norrman secured his second title of the 2023 season following his maiden triumph at the Barbasol Championship in July. Norrman's victory continues a sensational fortnight for Swedish golf following Ludvig Åberg's victory at last week's Omega European Masters. Germany's Long finished alone in second place on 13 under after birdieing the last to complete his final-round 72. Home favourite Shane Lowry finished in a tie for third after his roller-coaster 68, alongside Ryan Fox, Grant Forrest and Thriston Lawrence.
Norrman started his fourth round with six straight pars before picking up his first birdie of the day from 12 feet on the seventh. He sank another birdie putt - this time from 20 feet - at the ninth to get to nine under before play was suspended due to thunder and lightning for just over 90 mins. When the action resumed, Norrman picked up where he left off, getting up and down from a bunker for birdie at the tenth before completing his hat-trick with an 18-foot putt on the next. Two more lengthy birdie putts at the 13th and 14th saw Norrman reach 13 under, and he produced one of the best par saves of the week on the 16th to keep his card clean, getting up and down from the rough. After parring the 17th from six feet, Norrman gave himself a long eagle try on the last but instead had to settle for a birdie and a 14-under-par tally. With his title rivals as many as six holes behind him, Norrman went to the range to prepare for a possible play-off, but around 90 minutes after he had finished his round, he was finally able to celebrate victory as Long failed to make an eagle at the 18th. Norrman was thrilled with his win, saying: "It means everything. Obviously such a cool event to play. The fans have been incredible. I've really had a fun week. "The front nine was huge. I was playing so-so and then I birdied the seventh and ninth to get some momentum going into the back. I think that was key today. "Obviously if you win, you're doing something good. It's a world-class event, and honestly I can't believe it's happened." Speaking about how his Barbasol Championship victory less than two months ago helped him on Sunday, he said: "I learned so much that day, probably the most I've ever done in my career. It's just golf at the end of the day, but obviously I love playing golf, and I'm having the time of my life out there." | 
