With the ball moving 22 feet, 1 inch and then dropping over the front lip on its final turn, he had time to let the celebration grow as a wave of noise rose over the eighteenth green.
This was the day Robert MacIntyre, from Oban on Scotland’s west coast, who had stated all along that this was the one he wanted and who was only turned down here a year before by Rory McIlroy, would not be turned down. With his putter down, MacIntyre turned to face the crowded grandstands and threw his hands up in the air before hitting a classic uppercut reminiscent of Tiger Woods.
Although it’s not possible to crowdsource a golf tournament’s outcome, it could be possible occasionally.
“I was raised in a working-class home and have two elder foster sisters. We’ve been caring for a foster youngster for the past six or seven years. My entire family extended a fantastic chance to me.”During the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club, MacIntyre commented after making a birdie on the 18th hole to score 67 and defeat Adam Scott (67) by one stroke.
“Because we couldn’t afford to take care of both, my sisters gave up the horse and offered me the opportunity to go throughout Britain.”he said.
It is possible to extract the Scot from Scotland, but the boy’s Scotland remains intact. MacIntyre has experienced homesickness this season. He joined the PGA TOUR this year after finishing in the top 10 on the DP World Tour previous season. This week, he stated that he tried Florida and joined Isleworth, but he would not be renewing his lease. His best place is home.
Sunday proved that to be truer than ever. “Robert! Robert, Robert!” went up from the audience. They started singing. In front of a joyful crowd of friends and family, MacIntyre celebrated his second victory (the RBC Canadian Open) in his previous five appearances as someone cued the bagpipes.
In the FedExCup, he is expected to go from 39th to 16th place.
“It’s astounding. When the ball fell on 18, my response said it all. I nearly don’t have a voice anymore. I got the one that I wanted.”McIntyre said.
“Shock was mixed along with a few swear terms. I only expressed my gratitude to them. My friends and all the males were there, and we were just laughing and chatting. I simply gave my parents my gratitude. To be able to accomplish this is absolutely amazing.”he said.
After trailing Ryder Cup colleague and playing partner Ludvig Åberg (73, T4) at the start of the second round, MacIntyre eventually caught up to 43-year-old Adam Scott on the back nine. At the 16th par-5, MacIntyre missed his drive to the right, which was the turning point. It felt like the tournament was slipping away from him in that moment. Already two behind, he had little chance of catching up when he found himself in the middle of things.
At that moment, he was saved by the three front metal spikes on his shoe.
“I know that as I’m approaching the ball, it’s my opportunity to really make birdie come in, so I’m yelling and cussing. After I picked up the ball, I noticed something and realized that I could be in danger. Perhaps it could be moved a hundred yards or so. As I stepped backward. I heard the clang just now.”Mcintyre said.
Am I standing on that sprinkler as I approach the golf ball ? he asked Caddie Mike Burrow.
Burrow declared he was, laughing.
It was only a stroke of luck. You take advantage of the regulations. It’s a sprinkler, so you should be relieved. All I needed was just one kiss.
He made the most of it after a dip. He struck a second shot straight at the pin from 248 yards that was like a laser, and the ball stopped 6 feet away for the eagle. When he reached the top of the leaderboard, two people stood there: Adam Scott, and MacIntyre, a Scot. On 18, the stage was set for his antics – a birdie that would, for the second year in a row, have the home audience in uproar.
On the 18th hole a year prior, MacIntyre set up what appeared to be the winning birdie with a stunning 3-wood shot against the wind. For a little over an hour, that was the tournament shot. After making a birdie on hole 17, McIlroy nearly stole the event with a magnificent approach on hole 18, which he set up with a 2-iron that has been memorialized with a plaque.
He was scarcely on a hot earlier this week, having missed the cut at the Rocket Mortgage Classic on his previous appearance, and he openly questioned if he would get another opportunity.
But now that he’s had the opportunity, he’s taken use of it, making up for last year and realizing the ambition of every youth golfer in Scotland. By the way, McIlroy (68) tied for fourth. After preparing a lively party at their rental home with family friends, MacIntyre scheduled a two-hour journey to Royal Troon for The Open Championship.
How will he let go of this ?
MacIntyre thought about the question, which appeared to be a reference to The Open, which begins on Thursday. Perhaps he considered his sisters and how they had given up the horse. For example, last month at the RBC Canadian Open, he had his father, the greenskeeper, caddy for him during his emotional maiden PGA TOUR victory. Or maybe he saw visions of his crazy buddies, who last week drove three hours from Oban to almost carry him about on their shoulders.
“I doubt that I will,” he responded.
