Robert MacIntyre: Home hero wins Genesis Scottish Open

Robert MacIntyre has ended Scotland’s long wait for a Genesis Scottish Open champion.

The 27-year-old, who suffered the agony of a narrow defeat at the hands of Rory McIlroy a year ago, went one better at The Renaissance Club this time around.

He birdied the last carded a final round 67, winning by a shot from Australian Adam Scott and becoming the first Scot to claim his national open since Colin Montgomerie quarter of a century ago.

In the process, he has become a two-time winner on the PGA Tour, following his victory in the RBC Canadian Open last month.

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“I’ve put a lot of work into this,” said MacIntyre, who started the final day two shots adrift of 54-hole leader Ludvig Aberg.. “I’ve changed a lot within the team and I’ve just worked hard. I wanted the Scottish Open and I’ve got the Scottish Open.

“Coming in there, we just tried to give ourselves a chance. In my head, I just kept saying, ‘This is what you dreamed of as a kid.’ And I’ve done it.”

MacIntyre becomes the second Scot to win in as many weeks – following Ewen Ferguson’s victory at the BMW International Open last weekend – and he now goes into this week’s Open at Royal Troon full of confidence as he chases his first major.

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“Next week’s a new week,” he added, “but I tell you one thing – I’m going to celebrate this one with my family, friends and everyone here. I’m going to celebrate this one hard and we’ll pitch up to The Open when we pitch up to The Open.”

MacIntyre’s win vaults him to a career-high of 16th on the Official World Golf Ranking and earns him a cheque for $1.62million, taking his season’s earnings on the PGA Tour to almost $7million.

Michael McEwan is bunkered's Head of Content and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Head of Content