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 yr. But in contrast to 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 dwelling soil. MacIntyre’s win additionally carries historic significance. It’s the primary time a Scotsman has gained his National 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.

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

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

“I don’t suppose I’ll be in a match state to get to Troon. I don’t suppose I’ll be legally capable of drive.”

Here are 5 general takeaways from an exciting Genesis Scottish Open:

1. No Big Shot Bob with out Big Drop Bob

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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 ultimate spherical a yr in the past, making a bogey as he finally completed one behind Rory McIlroy. MacIntyre couldn’t afford to make the identical mistake twice.

After pulling his drive proper of the golf green, it regarded like he had accomplished 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 largest 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 likelihood to essentially make a birdie coming in. I acquired over the ball and checked out it, pondering, ‘I’m in a little bit of bother right here.’ Might handle to maneuver it possibly 100 yards,” MacIntyre stated.

“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 footwear, 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. Obviously the plastic spikes on the again, you don’t really feel it. I couldn’t imagine it after 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 believed I acquired 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 toes 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.

But with out that huge drop, MacIntyre would—in all probability—nonetheless be eager for that coveted Scottish Open victory.

2. Adam Scott: ‘Future is shiny’

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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 huge 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 strategy. But 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 wonderful have a look at birdie on the 72nd gap simply slid by on the proper 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 know, 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 kind. Because 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 greatest 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 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. Feel like I’m enjoying at a excessive stage,” Scott added.

“Good to be within the combine. A disgrace to return 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

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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 take care of 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.

But as soon as once more, the younger Swede struggled on Sunday. We noticed him make a rookie mistake on the eleventh gap at Augusta National, regardless 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 Tournament 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?

Perhaps.

But he’s solely 24 years previous. He possesses an otherworldly expertise that few others have. Åberg hits the ball on a string, has a good looking quick recreation, and maybe better of all, he performs at a remarkably environment friendly tempo. He smiles as extensive because the Atlantic Ocean and infrequently reveals frustration. Still, 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

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One of the gorgeous 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 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 in the present day. 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 consequence on the Scottish Open, because of a 5-under 65.

Then, Mansell, who final performed in The Open in 2022, tied the course file 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?

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For the primary 9 holes on Sunday, it regarded as if Collin Morikawa might lastly break via and win for the primary time this season. He shot a 3-under 32, making 4 birdies to 1 bogey to make the flip at 16-under. The two-time main winner even held a share of the lead at one level.

But 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 the very 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. With his ball nestled down within the left fescue, Morikawa had little likelihood of saving par. But 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 because of his pulled strategy. Finding a type of pot bunkers would deliver a double bogey into play, and as CBS Sports analyst Trevor Immelman stated on the published, doing so would “throw the event away.”

Instead of enjoying properly previous the pin and two-putting for a bogey, thus retaining his probabilities 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 vastly improved from a yr in the past, and he ranks sixth on the PGA Tour in strokes gained general. The former California Golden Bear has additionally performed properly within the majors, as his title has been on leaderboards all season lengthy.

But small errors like these have prevented him from getting 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 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. But 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 workers author for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be certain to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You can observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.