Bob MacIntyre, a local hero, fully harnessed an unusual stroke of good fortune to secure his victory at the Renaissance Club’s Genesis Scottish Open. A saga that unfolded last year, where he narrowly missed the championship to Rory McIlroy, revolved in his favour this year as he executed his finale with flair, ultimately surpassing Adam Scott who had a two shot lead with three left to play in an animated last round.
MacIntyre’s left-handed swing came into play at the par-five 16th, delivering an eagle blow, remarkably only after a free drop from knee-high rough when he identified a water sprinkler near his ball. This equalled him with Scott at 17 under par and, to the cheer of the excited home attendees, he sunk a birdie from a 20-foot distance at hole 18, marking an incredible conquest.
As the day commenced, MacIntyre was two shots behind his Ryder Cup colleague, Ludvig Aberg, and it seemed as if his effort was losing steam having completed his initial 13 holes at one over par. However, he bounced back at the 14th with a lengthy birdie putt, narrowing the gap with Scott to a single point before the Australian restored the two-point lead with a birdie at the 16th hole.
Scott, the erstwhile title holder, seemed meant to win again, particularly when MacIntyre powered his drive into the deep rough at par-five 16th. However, luck was on the Scot’s side as he spotted a sprinkler near his ball during his practice swing. As a result, MacIntyre was given a free drop, capitalising on it by firing a mesmerising approach from 247 yards to six feet, coolly dispatching the eagle putt, and finally affirming his victory with a birdie at the closing hole.
Despite Scott’s impressive round of a concluding 67, seven birdies, a double bogey and two bogies, the 43-year-old failed to claim his first title since the Genesis Invitational in February 2020.
Rory McIlroy, the previous champion, ended up in a tie for fourth place alongside Aberg, both scoring 14 under, after McIlroy’s final round of 68 and Aberg’s disappointing 73. Concurrently, Ayaka Furue of Japan achieved her inaugural Major win at the Evian Championship by triumphing with a final hole eagle, coming out ahead by just a stroke.
Stephanie Kyriacou of Australia started off the day in the lead by a single stroke and, with the ten remaining holes, Furue found herself two strokes behind Kyriacou and Lauren Coughlin. However, an eagle at the final hole by Patty Tavatanakit culminated in a 17 under par clubhouse lead before Furue seized her first major victory, responding with an eagle three, and finishing on 19 under par, leaving Kyriacou in second place.
Unfortunately, the cut for the tournament, which took place last Friday, was missed by Leona Maguire and Stephanie Meadow.