Scottish Open: 5 takeaways from Robert MacIntyre’s dramatic win

The Genesis Scottish Open got here right down to the 72nd gap for the second consecutive yr. However not like the 2023 version, a Scotsman prevailed in his nationwide open.

Robert MacIntyre, the household man who loves nothing greater than his cherished hometown of Oban, the quaint West Coast village well-known for its Scotch and dramatic shoreline, birdied the difficult par-4 18th gap to eclipse Adam Scott by a stroke.

A fighter at coronary heart, MacIntyre—like his upbringing—by no means gave up. He confronted a three-shot deficit when he stood on the 14th tee however rallied to play his ultimate 5 holes in 4-under-par to steal the Scottish Open on his house soil. MacIntyre’s win additionally carries historic significance. It’s the primary time a Scotsman has gained his Nationwide Open in 25 years, as Colin Montgomerie gained at Loch Lamond in 1999.

MacIntyre’s win can also be his second of the season. He gained the RBC Canadian Open in early June, along with his father filling in as his caddy. The win in Hamilton was MacIntyre’s first PGA Tour victory, a life-altering occasion for the person who referred to the tour as a “lonely place” lower than a month earlier than.

However now, in his homeland, MacIntyre will have fun the most important win of his profession along with his household, associates, and mates properly into the evening—even with Royal Troon and The Open Championship on deck.

“Assume there could be a change of schedule,” MacIntyre joked after his win.

“I don’t assume I’ll be in a match state to get to Troon. I don’t assume I’ll be legally in a position to drive.”

Listed here are 5 total takeaways from an exhilarating Genesis Scottish Open:

1. No Massive Shot Bob with out Massive Drop Bob

Picture by Luke Walker/Getty Photos

Two holes after draining a 41-footer for birdie, MacIntyre arrived on the par-5 sixteenth in want of one other one—on the very least. He had made a multitude of issues on this gap throughout the ultimate spherical a yr in the past, making a bogey as he in the end completed one behind Rory McIlroy. MacIntyre couldn’t afford to make the identical mistake twice.

After pulling his drive proper of the green, it regarded like he had accomplished simply that. His ball nestled down in deep, gnarly tough—the fescue that usually provides links-style golf programs its tooth and punishes anybody who hits it there.

MacIntyre trailed Scott by two at this juncture, however saving par didn’t appear to be a assure. Then, the Scottish {golfing} gods gave MacIntyre the most important break of his profession.

“I’m shouting, and I’m swearing once I’m getting as much as the ball as a result of I do know that that’s my likelihood to essentially make a birdie coming in. I acquired over the ball and checked out it, considering, ‘I’m in a little bit of bother right here.’ Would possibly handle to maneuver it perhaps 100 yards,” MacIntyre stated.

“As I took a step again, clearly, there was no excessive tough the place it could tangle the membership. So I may take the follow swing, like a foot, foot and a half from the ball, and only a step again. I simply heard the clunk; I’ve acquired spikes on the entrance three of my sneakers, not on my shoe as spikes, however simply the entrance three studs as metallic spikes, and I used to be like, no method. I’ve acquired a sprinkler beneath my foot. Clearly the plastic spikes on the again, you don’t really feel it. I couldn’t imagine it once I heard a spring beneath my foot the place my spike is, and I used to be like, no method. It was lined, and I assumed I acquired fortunate; it was meant to be.”

MacIntyre known as over a guidelines official, who then allowed him to take a drop, giving him a way more favorable lie and the chance to go for the inexperienced in two. He pummelled his 6-iron excessive into the air from 247 yards out, and his ball got here to relaxation six ft from the opening. He drained the eagle strive, which bumped him as much as 17-under and right into a share of the lead.

He two-putted for par on 17 after which holed a 22-footer for birdie on 18 to win.

However with out that massive drop, MacIntyre would—in all chance—nonetheless be eager for that coveted Scottish Open victory.

2. Adam Scott: ‘Future is shiny’

Picture by Luke Walker/Getty Photos

Forty-three-year-old Adam Scott is aware of his probabilities of successful don’t come typically these days, but he remained optimistic after his runner-up end.

The Aussie held a two-shot lead down the stretch however noticed MacIntyre go him by to grab the Genesis Scottish Open away.

Scott’s one massive mistake on the again 9 got here on the par-4 fifteenth, as he couldn’t rise up and down from brief and proper of the inexperienced after a poor method. However he salvaged that bogey with a birdie on the sixteenth gap after which completed with a pair of pars to submit a 17-under rating.

With that stated, Scott had an excellent look to get to 18-under; his glorious take a look at birdie on the 72nd gap simply slid by on the precise aspect.

“It was sort of down the backbone, and I learn it to go straight. I used to be like straight down the backbone, but it surely went proper a little bit bit,” Scott stated of his putt on 18.

“You already know, it was enjoyable to have one which mattered, really. So, I’m excited to take some consolation from this and head into a serious subsequent week in type. As a result of it’s been some time since I can say I’ve accomplished that.”

Scott has not gained for the reason that 2020 Genesis Invitational at Riviera and final posted a runner-up end on the 2021 Wyndham Championship. His finest end this yr got here on the WM Phoenix Open, the place he tied for eighth. He had 5 high 10s a yr in the past, however by no means threatened victory.

“You already know, it’s laborious to complain about something. It’s the primary time I’ve been in rivalry this yr. I like the place my recreation is headed going into subsequent week. Really feel like I’m taking part in at a excessive degree,” Scott added.

“Good to be within the combine. A disgrace to come back up brief, however Bob did what he needed to do to win. Eagle, par, birdie, that’s nice stuff.”

3. Ludvig Åberg struggles on Sunday once more

Picture by Luke Walker/Getty Photos

Ludvig Åberg started the ultimate spherical of the Genesis Scottish Open with a two-shot lead over MacIntyre. He posted a pair of 64s throughout the first and second rounds after which shot a 5-under 65 on Saturday to take care of his place atop the leaderboard.

He had performed flawless golf for 54 holes and will have held a good higher lead if not for a brutal break that he suffered on the eighth gap on Thursday.

However as soon as once more, the younger Swede struggled on Sunday. We noticed him make a rookie mistake on the eleventh gap at Augusta Nationwide, although he did shoot a 3-under 69 on that Sunday. He made errors over the weekend at Pinehurst No. 2. He additionally struggled on the Memorial Event on Sunday, posting a ultimate spherical 2-over 74 to tie for fifth.

He has not carded a sub-70 ultimate spherical since that second Sunday in April, which noticed Scottie Scheffler win his second inexperienced jacket. So, is the final-round stress attending to the rookie?

Maybe.

However he’s solely 24 years previous. He possesses an otherworldly expertise that few others have. Åberg hits the ball on a string, has a wonderful brief recreation, and maybe better of all, he performs at a remarkably environment friendly tempo. He smiles as broad because the Atlantic Ocean and infrequently reveals frustration. Nonetheless, his lack of effectivity on Sundays over the previous three months is one thing to observe, particularly if he finds himself within the combine at Royal Troon and stumbles throughout the ultimate spherical once more.

4. Three gamers qualify for The Open

Picture by Andrew Redington/Getty Photos

One of many stunning issues in regards to the Genesis Scottish Open is that it’s the final alternative for gamers to get into The Open Championship discipline.

The R&A, the governing physique that facilitates The Open, invitations the highest three finishers from the Scottish Open—not in any other case exempt—to affix the sector at Royal Troon.

As such, Aaron Rai, Alex Noren, and Richard Mansell all certified for The Open, because of their standing on the leaderboard.

Rai, who dons two gloves throughout play, posted a 7-under 63 to soar up the leaderboard and end in a tie for fourth in Scotland, that means he has completed within the high 20 in 5 straight begins.

“I feel it nonetheless actually has not sunk in,” Rai stated.

“I actually didn’t have these expectations going into at the moment. I imply, any of the majors are unbelievable. The British Open is clearly very, very particular. So yeah, simply extremely happy and proud.”

Noren, in the meantime, has additionally had a powerful season.

The Swede posted his third top-10 end result on the Scottish Open, because of a 5-under 65.

Then, Mansell, who final performed in The Open in 2022, tied the course report on Sunday, capturing a 9-under 61 to climb the leaderboard 46 locations. He completed T-10 alongside Noren and punched his ticket to Royal Troon, too.

5. Can Collin Morikawa shut one out quickly?

Picture by Malcolm Mackenzie/Getty Photos

For the primary 9 holes on Sunday, it regarded as if Collin Morikawa may lastly break via and win for the primary time this season. He shot a 3-under 32, making 4 birdies to at least one bogey to make the flip at 16-under. The 2-time main winner even held a share of the lead at one level.

However then he made a mistake on the eleventh gap, which jogged my memory of what he stated after the ultimate spherical of The Masters.

“Greed acquired one of the best of me,” Morikawa stated then.

“I knew the place I stood. I simply can’t do this.”

Morikawa acquired grasping along with his third shot on the eleventh gap on Sunday. Together with his ball nestled down within the left fescue, Morikawa had little likelihood of saving par. However he desperately tried to play hero ball and accomplish that.

Two pot bunkers sat between him and the pin, as he had short-sided himself because of his pulled method. Discovering a type of pot bunkers would carry a double bogey into play, and as CBS Sports activities analyst Trevor Immelman stated on the published, doing so would “throw the event away.”

As a substitute of taking part in properly previous the pin and two-putting for a bogey, thus holding his possibilities at successful intact, Morikawa discovered the bunker and made a double bogey. He couldn’t recuperate, making seven straight pars to complete his ultimate spherical and submit a 14-under-score. He completed in a tie for fourth, his seventh high 10 results of the season.

Morikawa has performed very properly in 2024—properly sufficient to win. His ball-striking has significantly improved from a yr in the past, and he ranks sixth on the PGA Tour in strokes gained total. The previous California Golden Bear has additionally performed properly within the majors, as his title has been on leaderboards all season lengthy.

However small errors like these have prevented him from coming into the winner’s circle once more. If he can restrict these blunders—and even take his medication when he makes an error—Morikawa will probably be victorious quickly sufficient. Heck, it could shock no one if he gained at Royal Troon. He claimed the Claret Jug three years in the past at Royal St. George’s, so his recreation interprets properly to links-style golf. However the sort of golf additionally punishes greed, which reared its ugly head in Morikawa as soon as extra on Sunday.

Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By way of. Be sure you try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.