Breathe.
Paul Dunne was made do it the hard way, oh he was.
If you’re going to have your first win would you want it any other way, to be honest.
Dunne has had so many close shaves before, the 2015 British Open is where he became a household name as the Wicklow man was the final round leader only to have an unsuccessful day.
The 24-year-old looked to secure his first professional win in Morocco earlier in the year but lost out to Edoardo Molinari at the Hassan II Golf Trophy in a playoff.
And then the British Masters rolled around, Rory McIlroy announced he would play after missing out on the FedEx Cup playoffs and the world number six rediscovered his form and shot a very impressive 64 on Saturday.
As Dunne looked to be coasting away on Sunday, Rory made a charge, the Northern Irish man birdied 12,13,14, 16 and 17 and was a whisker away from another birdie on 15 and ultimately on the 18th too.
Another McIlroy birdie. He's now just one back & heading to the par three 18th hole #BritishMasters pic.twitter.com/JPllKKZffR
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) October 1, 2017
But it was Dunne’s time, and Dunne closed out with a birdie on 17 and 18 but luck was in his favour earlier on in the round.
Spinning it off the sprinkler head to within 3 feet 😲@dunners11 gets a big break at 11. pic.twitter.com/BzMA1XsFSD
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) October 1, 2017
Dunne was clutch in the run in, making vital pars on 12,14 and 15 and also hit birdies on 11, 13 and 17, which includes that absolute fluke.
And then he hit it into the rough on the 18th, was Dunne going to blow this.
Of course not, he just went on holed out to beat McIlroy by three.
Unbelievable!@dunners11 chips-in at 18 to win the #BritishMasters! pic.twitter.com/branyPTHQN
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) October 1, 2017
Holing out to win and beat Rory McIlroy…what a baller pic.twitter.com/E2oJDymwbM
— Darragh Culhane (@DarraghCulhane) October 1, 2017
The reaction on the face says it all for Dunne, just a stellar way to win it.
He wasn’t the only man delighted, Offaly’s Shane Lowry was loving the win.
Shane Lowry is loving that win! pic.twitter.com/GuuCjqK8lH
— Darragh Culhane (@DarraghCulhane) October 1, 2017
It was a 61 from Dunne to win, the lowest round of the week and he was just something else.
The Greystones man will now be a little bit richer than he was yesterday, taking home a not so shabby £500,000 with him after his heroics on Sunday.
Speaking after Dunne’s victory McIlroy said:
“To shoot 61 to win his first tour event is impressive, I’m happy for him as well every time i’m out practicing on the putting green or the chipping green he’s always there and he’s always working hard.”
