MacIntyre admits he’d struggle to forgive McIlroy if he fails to win Scottish Open

“MacIntyre’s Haunting Near-Miss: The Scottish Open That Almost Was”

Robert MacIntyre’s lingering regret over Rory McIlroy’s dramatic victory at the Genesis Scottish Open is palpable, as the Scottish golfer candidly admits he might never forgive McIlroy if he fails to secure the coveted title in his career.

 

Last year, MacIntyre set a formidable clubhouse target with a sensational birdie on the 18th hole, an impressive feat given the day’s challenging conditions at the Renaissance Club. The birdie was only the second of the day on the closing hole, as strong winds tested the mettle of the players.

 

However, McIlroy, the overnight leader, matched MacIntyre’s effort by birdying the par-three 17th to draw level. He then delivered a remarkable 2-iron approach on the final hole, a shot so memorable it has since been commemorated with a plaque. McIlroy followed this with a 10-foot putt to clinch an improbable win, a feat Edoardo Molinari, Ryder Cup statistics guru, estimated had just a 0.15 percent probability.

 

“I don’t think I’ll ever forgive him if I don’t win a Scottish Open,” MacIntyre confessed with a hint of a smile. “If it’s not a major championship, this is the one I want. It was an incredible golf shot he hit. That was the winning shot, really. It was a good shot and it was a bit heartbreaking.”

 

When asked if he had discussed the event with McIlroy when they were teammates on Europe’s Ryder Cup team two months later, MacIntyre revealed a brief exchange. “I asked him one question at some point during the party. I had not spoken to him at all about it since the day it happened, and I always wanted to ask him about the putt on 18. He thought he had missed it and it went in. So it just shows you, it doesn’t have to be perfect for it to work out.”

 

MacIntyre’s adjustment to the PGA Tour this season has been rocky. The left-hander admitted he struggled to adapt to being away from home, but a three-week stint back in Scotland rejuvenated him. Upon returning to the United States, he secured an eighth-place finish in the US PGA Championship and triumphed at the RBC Canadian Open with his father caddying for him. Nevertheless, he plans to let his Florida rental property lease expire soon.

 

“I’m still going to play over there,” MacIntyre stated. “I’m just not going to pay a lot of money for a rental that I’m not staying in. I’ll maybe take a house for maybe a month, two months when I’m there. I’ve joined Isleworth so that will always be a place I go and practise in the wintertime, but there’s nothing like home. Scotland, this is where I want to be.”

 

MacIntyre also reflected on his relationships with fellow golfers, noting, “I’m still miles away from being one of his close pals, but I feel like if I ever need anything or ever want to ask a question, I can pick up the phone and ask. And Viktor I’ve known since we were 14, 15 years old playing boys’ golf.”

 

As he approaches this year’s Scottish Open, MacIntyre feels a sense of calm. “This is probably the most calm I’ve been (coming into a Scottish Open). It’s not been as frantic. Things have been under control. Yeah, my game has been up and down but it’s been up and down my whole golfing life. But this is the one that, as a Scot, I really want.”

 

Recalling his close call last year, MacIntyre knows the rarity of such an opportunity. “Last year I came really close but there may not be another opportunity like that in my career playing golf. I’ve just got to try and play it as another event and give it my absolute best, which I will do.”