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 residence 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, 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 have fun the most important win of his profession together with his household, pals, and mates properly into the night time—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 in a position to drive.”

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

1. No Large Shot Bob with out Large 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 large number of issues on this gap through 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 carried out simply that. His ball nestled down in deep, gnarly tough—the fescue that usually offers 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 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 after 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 acquired over the ball and checked out it, considering, ‘I’m in a little bit of hassle right here.’ Would possibly 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 apply 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 steel spikes, and I used to be like, no approach. 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 after I heard a spring below my foot the place my spike is, and I used to be like, no approach. It was coated, 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 large drop, MacIntyre would—in all probability—nonetheless be eager for that coveted Scottish Open victory.

2. Adam Scott: ‘Future is brilliant’

Picture by Luke Walker/Getty Photos

Forty-three-year-old Adam Scott is aware of his possibilities of profitable 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 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 publish a 17-under rating.

With that mentioned, Scott had an excellent look to get to 18-under; his wonderful have 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 somewhat bit,” Scott mentioned of his putt on 18.

“You understand, 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 kind. As a result of it’s been some time since I can say I’ve carried out 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 prime 10s a yr in the past, however by no means threatened victory.

“You understand, it’s laborious to complain about something. It’s the primary time I’ve been in competition this yr. I like the place my recreation 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 return 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 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 better 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, though 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 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 outdated. He possesses an otherworldly expertise that few others have. Åberg hits the ball on a string, has a gorgeous brief recreation, and maybe better of all, he performs at a remarkably environment friendly tempo. He smiles as vast 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 through 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 hitch the sphere at Royal Troon.

As such, Aaron Rai, Alex Noren, and Richard Mansell all certified for The Open, due to 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 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 at present. 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 powerful season.

The Swede posted his third top-10 consequence on the Scottish Open, due to a 5-under 65.

Then, Mansell, who final performed in The Open in 2022, tied the course file on Sunday, taking pictures 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 might lastly break by means 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 acquired the most effective of me,” Morikawa mentioned then.

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

Morikawa acquired grasping together with his third shot on the eleventh gap on Sunday. Together 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 achieve this.

Two pot bunkers sat between him and the pin, as he had short-sided himself due to his pulled method. Discovering a type of pot bunkers would convey a double bogey into play, and as CBS Sports activities analyst Trevor Immelman mentioned on the printed, doing so would “throw the match away.”

As an alternative of enjoying properly previous the pin and two-putting for a bogey, thus holding his possibilities at profitable intact, Morikawa discovered the bunker and made a double bogey. He couldn’t get better, making seven straight pars to complete his ultimate 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 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 general. 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 can be victorious quickly sufficient. Heck, it will shock no person 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. Make sure to try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You’ll be able to observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.