The 2023 Horizon Irish Open is all set to kick off at the K Club in County Kildare, Ireland. The golfers are set to compete against each other in a bid to take home a cut of the $6 million prize pool. And vying for the same is home favorite Rory McIlroy, who hopes to emerge victorious. But, in a surprise of sorts, the 4X major winner is being remembered for something else ahead of the event.

A PGA Tour veteran and fellow Irishman recently took some time to recount McIlroy’s famous shot from back in 2016, which earned the 24-time PGA Tour winner a plaque. The senior star, moreover, even compared one of his own shots, which received tons of praise from none other than Tiger Woods himself, to the 34-year-old’s feat, drawing light to how extraordinary it really was!

PGA Tour pro opens up about Rory McIlroy and his legendary shot

The winner in any tournament is marked by the performance they are able to dish out in the specific event, especially in the crucial areas of the golf course that separate the cream of the crop. Similarly, the K-Club golf club boasts its own set of exciting shots, and Padraig Harrington was especially vocal about one such shot that McIlroy made on the course back in 2016 when asked to compare one such hit he made at the US PGA Championship, which earned the GOAT’s admiration.

In the press conference ahead of the event, the 52-year-old went ahead to talk about how his 3-wood shot out of the bunker at Hazeltine could not even come close to the one ‘Rors’ hit on the 16th hole at County Kildare. Quoting the golf star Bob Burns, the Irishman mentioned how “it’s easy to hit a great shot when you’re feeling good.” “It’s difficult to hit a good shot when you’re feeling bad,” he said, praising McIlroy for delivering when he actually had to.

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Continuing on his response, the 3X Major winner pointed out that although Tiger ended up praising him, it was not the best shot of the golfer’s career since it was not something that he hit when at his worst. Instead, Harrington mentioned how “it was the chip shot on the 72nd hole at Carnoustie” from 2007, where he grabbed the Claret Jug, which gave him the biggest sense of satisfaction. Being able to deliver under pressure is what the two Irish golfers did in both cases, and for Harrington, that is what matters the most.

Well, after all this praise from the senior pro, it would be a shame if we did not take a quick peek at the two shots that earned the golfers praise from their counterparts. Let us have a quick flashback into the past.

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McIlroy’s and Harrington’s praiseworthy shots

Rory was able to clinch his first win on home soil by registering a score of 12-under 276 and taking home a cut of the $4 million at the 2016 Dubai Duty-Free Irish Open. On the fourth and final day, the then-young Irish golfer carded a final round of 69, with his peer Russell Knox on his tail with a score of 68. McIlroy had a tough first nine as Knox took the lead, but the golfer was able to take back the lead after a phenomenal shot on the 16th hole led to a birdie. The stunning shot earned him a plaque on the famous course, marking his name in history.

His senior Irish counterpart earned the admiration of Tiger Woods during the 2009 PGA Championship held at the Hazeltine National Golf Course. Harrington, the then-defending champion, hit a remarkable three-wood from a distance of 301 yards to within just 12 feet of the par-five 15th hole. What’s more, the golfer made the shot while facing the ball, which was on an uphill lie under a fairway bunker. The shot was so phenomenal that it even made one of the greatest players in the game—Woods—exclaim how it was one of the best shots he’d ever seen!

Well, one can’t help but notice how the two Irish golfers are set to make a mark again at the Horizon Irish Open this time around. Who do you think will come out on top? Let us know in the comments below.

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