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

The Genesis Scottish Open got here all the way down to the 72nd gap for the second consecutive 12 months. 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 remaining 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 received his Nationwide Open in 25 years, as Colin Montgomerie received at Loch Lamond in 1999.

MacIntyre’s win can also be his second of the season. He received the RBC Canadian Open in early June, together 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 rejoice the largest win of his profession together with his household, mates, and mates effectively into the evening—even with Royal Troon and The Open Championship on deck.

“Assume there is perhaps 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 capable of drive.”

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

1. No Huge Shot Bob with out Huge Drop Bob

Photograph by Luke Walker/Getty Pictures

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 through the remaining spherical a 12 months 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 appeared like he had carried out simply that. His ball nestled down in deep, gnarly tough—the fescue that always provides links-style golf programs its enamel and punishes anybody who hits it there.

MacIntyre trailed Scott by two at this juncture, however saving par didn’t seem like a assure. Then, the Scottish {golfing} gods gave MacIntyre the largest 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 probability to essentially make a birdie coming in. I obtained over the ball and checked out it, considering, ‘I’m in a little bit of bother right here.’ May handle to maneuver it perhaps 100 yards,” MacIntyre mentioned.

“As I took a step again, clearly, there was no excessive tough the place it will tangle the membership. So I might 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 obtained 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 means. I’ve obtained 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 underneath my foot the place my spike is, and I used to be like, no means. It was lined, and I believed I obtained fortunate; it was meant to be.”

MacIntyre referred to 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 large drop, MacIntyre would—in all probability—nonetheless be eager for that coveted Scottish Open victory.

2. Adam Scott: ‘Future is vibrant’

Photograph by Luke Walker/Getty Pictures

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

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

Scott’s one large mistake on the again 9 got here on the par-4 fifteenth, as he couldn’t stand up and down from quick 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 publish a 17-under rating.

With that mentioned, Scott had a great look to get to 18-under; his wonderful take a look at birdie on the 72nd gap simply slid by on the correct facet.

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

“, it was enjoyable to have one which mattered, truly. 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 carried out that.”

Scott has not received because the 2020 Genesis Invitational at Riviera and final posted a runner-up end on the 2021 Wyndham Championship. His finest end this 12 months got here on the WM Phoenix Open, the place he tied for eighth. He had 5 prime 10s a 12 months in the past, however by no means threatened victory.

“, it’s arduous to complain about something. It’s the primary time I’ve been in rivalry this 12 months. I like the place my sport is headed going into subsequent week. Really feel like I’m enjoying at a excessive stage,” Scott added.

“Good to be within the combine. A disgrace to come back up quick, 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

Photograph by Luke Walker/Getty Pictures

Ludvig Åberg started the ultimate spherical of the Genesis Scottish Open with a two-shot lead over MacIntyre. He posted a pair of 64s through the first and second rounds after which shot a 5-under 65 on Saturday to keep up 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, despite the fact that 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 Match on Sunday, posting a remaining spherical 2-over 74 to tie for fifth.

He has not carded a sub-70 remaining 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 outdated. He possesses an otherworldly expertise that few others have. Åberg hits the ball on a string, has a good looking quick sport, and maybe better of all, he performs at a remarkably environment friendly tempo. He smiles as huge because the Atlantic Ocean and infrequently exhibits frustration. Nonetheless, his lack of effectivity on Sundays over the previous three months is one thing to watch, particularly if he finds himself within the combine at Royal Troon and stumbles through the remaining spherical once more.

4. Three gamers qualify for The Open

Photograph by Andrew Redington/Getty Pictures

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

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 hitch 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, which means he has completed within the prime 20 in 5 straight begins.

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

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

Noren, in the meantime, has additionally had a robust 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 document 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?

Photograph by Malcolm Mackenzie/Getty Pictures

For the primary 9 holes on Sunday, it appeared as if Collin Morikawa might lastly break by way of 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 mentioned after the ultimate spherical of The Masters.

“Greed obtained the perfect of me,” Morikawa mentioned then.

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

Morikawa obtained grasping together with his third shot on the eleventh gap on Sunday. Along with his ball nestled down within the left fescue, Morikawa had little probability 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 kind of pot bunkers would deliver a double bogey into play, and as CBS Sports activities analyst Trevor Immelman mentioned on the printed, doing so would “throw the event away.”

As a substitute of enjoying effectively previous the pin and two-putting for a bogey, thus protecting his probabilities at successful intact, Morikawa discovered the bunker and made a double bogey. He couldn’t get well, making seven straight pars to complete his remaining spherical and publish a 14-under-score. He completed in a tie for fourth, his seventh prime 10 results of the season.

Morikawa has performed very effectively in 2024—effectively sufficient to win. His ball-striking has tremendously improved from a 12 months in the past, and he ranks sixth on the PGA Tour in strokes gained general. The previous California Golden Bear has additionally performed effectively within the majors, as his identify 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 drugs when he makes an error—Morikawa might be victorious quickly sufficient. Heck, it will shock no person if he received at Royal Troon. He claimed the Claret Jug three years in the past at Royal St. George’s, so his sport interprets effectively to links-style golf. However one of these golf additionally punishes greed, which reared its ugly head in Morikawa as soon as extra on Sunday.

Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By means of. You should definitely try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as effectively.