Dunhill Links Championship: McIlroys ready for team win by Fleetwood

The duo of father and son McIlroy was sharpened in the team competition by Tommy Fleetwood and his partner

An exciting finish of six straight birds from Rory McIlroy could not prevent him and his father Gerry from falling short in the team event at the Dunhill Links Championship.

The McIlroys finished 39 under in St Andrews along with Tommy Fleetwood and partner Ogden Phipps who won the pro-am team event on countback.

Fleetwood & # 39; s 19-under total in the main event was McIlroy four.

That is why the English star and his partner were declared team winners.

McIlroy said Wednesday that his father had indicated that his final would be his appearance in the pro-am event of celebrities.

As a result, McIlroy added that the team event would be just as important to him as his overall finish.

After starting on the 10th, McIlroy had an up and down opening nine that included three birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey.

But after three pars of the first, McIlroy ended his round in style with his six closing birdies when he signed for a five-under-par 67.

McIlroy & # 39; s 15- in total he had 26th place in a large group including the European Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington.

The Irish pair finished seven behind the French winner Victor Perez, who pulled Matthew Southgate of England out of a shot.

Southgate's three-headed bogey at the notoriously difficult Road Hole 17 proved to be undone when Perez, 27, captured a first European Tour triumph.

Former Northern Ireland Open winner Joakim Lagergren and England Paul Waring shared the second two shots out of pace with Fleetwood, who hit a 64, in a five-strong group a further back.

Open champion Shane Lowry was the best Irish finisher when he shared 15th place on the 17 below following off inal-round 68.