Superb victory for Robert MacIntyre

Every golfer’s ultimate dream is to win his own Open Championship and that is exactly what happened to Scottish golfer Robert MacIntyre on Sunday.  The 27-year old golfer from Oban played a delightful final round in the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club, North Berwick in Scotland when his 22-foot long birdie putt simply toppled into the hole at the last to beat the clubhouse leader from Australia, Adam Scott by one wee shot with a tally of 18-under par.

 

The week in Scotland got off to a blistering start with American Justin Thomas taking the lead with a superb 8-under without a single bogey on his card.  In fact, there were eight different nationalities featured in the top-10 with no less than 22 players nestled-in behind Thomas on 5-under par or better including Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa and Tommy Fleetwood.

 

McIlroy defending his title

 

A year after suffering a disappointing defeat by Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, who finished with back-to-back closing birdies to win the 2023 Genesis Scottish Open, Robert MacIntyre was even more focussed on winning at The Renaissance Club.  Yet winning in Scotland was quite a challenge as many great players from America and around the world take the opportunity to come to Scotland to warm-up for the Open Championship at Royal Troon later this week.  The American Brian Harman is defending his title there and took the chance to play at North Berwick where he finished in a share of 21st.

 

The way to victory

 

Robert MacIntyre opened with a 3-under par 67 with a host of other players for a share of 34th which was not such an impressive start, you may think.  There again with four rounds to play in Scotland, who knows what will happen.

 

 

The second day of the Genesis Scottish Open was played in beautiful sunshine giving the players chance to admire the beautiful views over the sea whilst attacking the putts for birdies.

 

It was Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg, who came an honourable second in the Masters, who stole the show on day two.  He played two great rounds of 64 and 64 to get to 12-under par and so take the lead by one from Frenchman Antoine Rozner.  At this point, MacIntyre had a share of 11th spot with Adam Scott and Corey Connors (Canada) and five others four shots behind on 8-under.

 

It was not until day three that Robert MacIntyre really came in the picture when he birdied the 10th hole to draw level with the 24-year old leader Aberg on 14-under.  Shortly afterwards American Sahill Theegala stormed into the limelight to share the lead.  He made a great birdie at the 6th hole after opening with three birdies and an eagle in the first five holes.  The Genesis Scottish Open was really hotting-up.

 

Sadly MacIntyre finished his third round with a bogey at the 18th but nevertheless his round of 63 saw him neatly posted as leader on 15-under, one ahead of Scott, Theegala and Aberg who were still out on the course.

 

Aberg in fine form

 

Ludvig Aberg finished his delightful round on Saturday at 17-under par which included seven birdies, including back-to-back birdies at the 16th and 17th, and two bogeys.  The Swede was certainly looking for victory in North Berwick with his seemingly cool and calm demeanour.  At this point, MacIntyre was two shots behind with Scott one further back.

 

In total, 74 players made the cut which came at 3-under par.  Alas, missing the cut were players like Holland’s number one golfer Joost Luiten who had just one stroke too many.  The 2024 KLM Open Champion from Italy Guido Migliozzi also missed the weekend by one tiny stroke.  Major winner from America Jordan Spieth was also one shot further behind.

 

If you’re wondering what happened to day one leader Justin Thomas, well, alas, the American finished way down the leaderboard with rounds of 62, 72, 71 and 71 for a one-over par score and a tie for 62nd spot.

 

Thrilling Sunday of golf

 

Collin Morikawa was also enjoying his golf in Scotland.  The American was sitting comfortably in second spot on 16-under par until he made a bogey at the 8th and ended sharing the spot with Frenchman Romain Langasque and MacIntyre leaving Aberg two ahead.

 

 

 

Adam Scott was also on fire on Sunday.  A fine shot on the 14th nearly went in the hole and gave him a chance to lead the Scottish Open on 17-under.  Meanwhile Aberg was struggling with his drives and, after missing a short putt on the 13th, slipped down the leaderboard to 15-under.  He then made bogey on the next hole to become tie 4th.

 

Scott looked pretty certain to lift the trophy until a magical hole from MacIntyre who eagled the 16th to grab a share of the lead with the Australian on 17-under.  There could easily be a play-off for the title.  Scott, who shot a 3-under par 67 on Sunday, watched MacIntyre’s last two holes from the comfort of the scorer’s hut.

 

MacIntyre made a good par at the par-3 17th leaving himself with the very outside chance of making a rare birdie at the 18th.  It was now that the young Scottish golfer raised his game and struck a superb birdie putt of some 22-feet which simply toppled into the hole.  A delighted Robert MacIntyre had snatched the Genesis Scottish Open trophy from Adam Scott with a wonderful score of 18-under which included rounds of 67, 65, 63 and 67.  In fact, the Scottish golfing talent had played the final five holes at The Renaissance in 4-under par.

 

Last month a determined Robert MacIntyre won the RBC Canadian Open with his father as caddie on his bag.  Who knows what the young Scottish golfer has in store for us this week during the Open Championship at Royal Troon in Scotland?

 

Robert MacIntyre’s victory is the first Scottish win since Colin Montgomerie claimed the Scottish Open title back in 1999.  And I can tell you that MacIntyre’s victory will be celebrated in his home town of Oban and further afield well into the week just in time for the start of the Open Championship at Royal Troon in Scotland on Thursday.  We’ll see you there!

 

Many, many congratulations to you Robert MacIntyre.  You are the 2024 Genesis Scottish Open Champion – absolutely delightful!

 

 

Wendy Hoad

Editor

 

 

MAIN PHOTOGRAPH:  The 2024 Genesis Scottish Open Champion Robert MacIntyre.  

MINIS (l-r): Justin Thomas, Rory McIlroy, Antoine Rozner and Ludvig Aberg.  Collin Morikawa, Robert MacIntyre, Adam Scott and Ludvig Aberg.