McIlroy juggernaut just keeps on rolling

Open de Madrid: Rory McIlroy's brilliant start to his professional career continued with a share of fourth place in the Madrid Open yesterday.

McIlroy carded a final-round 70 at Club de Campo to finish five shots behind Denmark's Mads Vibe-Hastrup, who fired a closing 67 to finish 16 under par and claim the €150,000 first prize and two-year tour exemption.

The Northern Ireland teenager was bidding to become the youngest winner in European Tour history at 18 years and 163 days, but was never truly in contention with a rollercoaster round of five birdies, one eagle and five bogeys.

But it was another impressive performance in only his third event in the paid ranks, coming just seven days after finishing third in the Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews.

"I would have taken (fourth) when I came here," admitted McIlroy, leading amateur in the British Open at Carnoustie in July. "I think I have done well after all that has gone over the last few weeks.

"There was a lot to contend with, so coming here and finishing in the top five is pretty good. That's two good weeks in a row - I just hope to follow it on next week.

"I am hitting it really well. If I could get a couple more putts to drop it would make the difference, but Mads played very well today and I would have had to shoot 65 to get near him.

"It would have been nice to hole that birdie putt at the last, but I am happy with the result.

"It was kind of stop-start at points today, but that's the way it goes. Some days you get on a roll and others you don't, I just couldn't build momentum today.

"Every time I got a birdie I would give it away in the next couple of holes, but I am very happy with the performance this week and that's me probably into the top 100 on the Order of Merit now, so I am happy. Onwards and upwards."

McIlroy went into the final round four behind Daniel Vancsik and had a first-hand view as the Argentinian crashed to a quintuple-bogey nine on the fifth to throw the tournament wide open.

That left Vibe-Hastrup in the lead and the 28-year-old never looked in danger of relinquishing it as he carded birdies at the eighth, 10th, 11th and 13th.

CHALLENGE TOUR: Peter Peter Whiteford of Scotland fired a 66 to claim his second European Challenge Tour victory within a month and all but guarantee his 2008 European Tour card when he won the doc Salbe PGA European Challenge in Germany, after his flawless closing round saw him finish on 22-under-par 266.

Best of the Irish was Gareth Maybin, six shots back.