Bob MacIntyre claimed an emotional home victory at The Renaissance Club by birdying the 18th hole to win the Scottish Open. Last year, he had a similar finish at the same venue but was denied the title by Rory McIlroy. This time, MacIntyre trailed by three shots on the back nine but came back with a long putt on the 14th, an eagle on the 16th, and a 22-foot putt on the last hole to finish at 18 under, one shot ahead of Adam Scott and two shots ahead of Romain Langasque.
Throughout the week, MacIntyre had been vocal about wanting to win Scotland’s national open following his heartbreak in 2023 when McIlroy denied him the title with a late surge. Since then, he has been part of a winning European Ryder Cup team and has now claimed his second PGA Tour win in addition to two previous victories on the DP World Tour. Winning the Scottish Open and becoming the first Scottish winner since Colin Montgomerie 25 years ago is a significant achievement for MacIntyre.
After lifting the trophy, MacIntyre expressed his disbelief at his victory, calling it unbelievable. He had a feeling that 16 or 17 under could win the tournament, and despite a disappointing bogey on the 10th hole, he managed to take his chances on the 16th and 18th holes. He credited his hard work and determination to win the Scottish Open, emphasizing the importance of taking chances when they arise.
MacIntyre’s win secured his spot at the upcoming Open at Royal Troon, where he will be joined by English pair Aaron Rai and Richard Mansell, as well as Swede Alex Noren. They finished as the three leading players not already exempt for the season’s final Major Championship. Rai finished at 14 under alongside McIlroy, Ludvig Åberg, Sungjae Im, Collin Morikawa, and Sahith Theegala. The victory also potentially elevates MacIntyre to 16th in the world rankings.
The Genesis Scottish Open leaderboard can be found online for those interested in seeing the final standings. MacIntyre’s win was a culmination of his hard work and determination to claim the title he had long desired. Celebrating with family and friends, he now looks forward to his next challenge at The Open, where he will aim to continue his successful run on the tour.
