Robert MacIntyre tastes home glory as Rory McIlroy rues putting form at Scottish Open

Scottish Showdown: MacIntyre’s Fairytale Victory at the Genesis Scottish Open

 

In a dramatic conclusion to the Genesis Scottish Open, Robert MacIntyre from Oban clinched a spectacular victory with two putts that will be remembered for ages. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy was left hoping his putter finds its form for The Open at Royal Troon this week.

 

Trailing Adam Scott by two shots with only three holes remaining, MacIntyre capitalized on a fortunate drop away from a sprinkler head in the rough at the 16th hole. He then executed a flawless approach to six feet and sank the putt to draw level.

 

In a storybook ending, exactly one year after McIlroy edged him out with a birdie-birdie finish, the left-hander sank a dramatic 22-foot putt on the 18th for a final round of 67. His triumphant roar echoed as he finished one shot ahead of Scott, winning on 18-under to become the first home victor of the title since Colin Montgomerie in 1999.

 

“I’ve put a lot of work into this,” MacIntyre said. “I’ve made significant changes within my team and worked incredibly hard. I really wanted to win the Scottish Open. The crowd has been unbelievable. I got a bit of luck on 16, which you need to win golf tournaments.”

 

“I couldn’t believe it when I felt a sprinkler under my foot. It was covered, and I thought, I got lucky; it was meant to be.”

 

This thrilling win marked MacIntyre’s second PGA Tour victory this season, having also won the Canadian Open five weeks ago with his father on his bag.

 

Adam Scott, who turns 44 tomorrow, finished second with a final round of 67, while France’s Romain Langasque secured third place after a stunning 64.

 

Overnight leader Ludvig Aberg struggled with a three-over 73, ending in a six-way tie for fourth on 14-under, alongside players like McIlroy and Aaron Rai. Rai’s impressive round of 63 secured one of the three spots in The Open, along with Alex Noren and Richard Mansell.

 

For McIlroy, who shot progressively improving rounds of 65, 66, 67, and 68, it was a case of missed opportunities. He finished the week tied for 63rd in strokes gained putting.

 

“I felt like I left a lot of shots out there over the course of four days, but considering I had three weeks off, I guess it’s to be expected,” McIlroy said. He also struggled to adjust to the pace of the greens.

 

“I felt like I was hitting good putts over the weekend, but the greens slowed down after the rain yesterday, and I couldn’t really adjust today. I was leaving a lot of putts short, and when they get that slow, I find them trickier to read. I had many chances I couldn’t convert, which was the story of the week.”

 

Putting also cost McIlroy at the US Open last month, but he remains hopeful for Troon. He believes that if he can fine-tune his feel, he can contend.

 

“If I can get the putter to cooperate and get the speed of the greens right, more so than hitting my lines, I feel like I’ll be in a really good spot,” he said.

 

Meanwhile, at the Amundi Evian Championship in France, Japan’s Ayaka Furue made a dramatic 15-foot eagle putt on the 18th to secure her first Major title. The 24-year-old from Kobe closed with a six-under 65, finishing one shot ahead of Australia’s Stephanie Kyriacou on 19-under-par. Furue pocketed a cool $1.2 million, becoming the fourth Japanese player to win a Major.

 

“I recently became a Star Wars fan and love the saying, ‘May the force be with you’,” said Furue. “I believe in that. It came to my mind on the 15th hole, and I just kept going with it in my mind.”

 

Furue’s victory was sealed with birdies on the 14th, 15th, and 16th holes, followed by a precise six-iron shot to 15 feet on the 18th, ensuring her place in golf history.