DP World/PGA Tour: Genesis Scottish Open Results
Canadian fans can only imagine Mike Weir hitting a 215 yard 3 wood from the rough to within 10' at the 72nd hole for a birdie to win the RBC Canadian Open for the first time since 1954.
That's what Scotland's Bob McIntyre did on the 72nd at this Genesis Scottish Open, a remarkable shot, to grab a one shot lead in the clubhouse, with a highlight reel blast that should have won him his National Championship.
Rory McIlroy produced a brilliant birdie-birdie finish to break home hearts and seal his second consecutive Rolex Series title at the Genesis Scottish Open
The now World Number Two entered the final round with a one-shot lead but on a dramatic day in high winds at The Renaissance Club, it was home hero Robert MacIntyre who threatened to seal a fairytale win by a Scot, the last to do so was Collin Montgomerie in 1999.
After a poorly sliced drive, he played a stunning approach, a choked down 3 wood from a good lie in the rough to within 5 feet for a birdie at the last to card a 64 in wild conditions and lead by one at 14 under. He called it "a career shot" afterwards in the clubhouse as he awaited Rory's finish.
However the four-time Major Championship winner McIlroy never knows when he is beaten and he had a career finish of his own about to unfold, as he put a tee-shot to five feet on the par 3 17th to share the lead.
The Northern Irishman then produced some closing magic of his own, one for the record books, a stunning 2 iron from the rough hammered into the wind, his approach stopping just 11 feet from the hole where made the putt to sign for a 68 and seal a remarkable victory.
McIlroy's first victory on Scottish soil now goes alongside the Hero Dubai Desert Classic title he claimed in January in his Rolex Series collection and takes his tally of DP World Tour victories to 16.
He also becomes the first player to win the Scottish Open, Irish Open and Open Championship the week before he goes in search of a fifth Major at Royal Liverpool, the scene of his Claret Jug win in 2014.
edit Note ****Unseen by the TV camera's during the interviewing area afterwards, Rory went over to the Scot with a hug and the simple words " I'm sorry". This pair will likely match up again as Ryder Cup team mates in Italy, this September.
"It's amazing," he said. "For the Race to Dubai, for the FedEx Cup, for my confidence in general, but for all those things that I talked about at the start of the week and trying to win the title on both sides of the Atlantic again this year, this, will go a long way.
"This is right up there with the best of (my performances), especially after missing the short birdie putt on 16. I thought if I can birdie one of the last two and get into a play-off, that would be a bonus.
"To finish two-three in these conditions, the two iron shots that I hit, the five iron into 17 and the two iron into the last are probably two of the best shots I've hit all year, and then to finish them off with the putts as well. To play the last 9 holes in these conditions, in a national championship makes me very proud.
"It feels absolutely amazing. I've had a few close calls recently so to get over the line and get this bit of confidence going into next week and the rest of the season is huge."
World Number One Scottie Scheffler, South Korean Byeong-hun An and Swede David Lingmerth finished in a tie for third at ten under, with An, Lingmerth and Dane Nicolai Højgaard - who finished a shot further back - all earning spots in the field at next week's Open Championship.
Lingmerth closed with a 66 and Scheffler and An both carded 70s to finish a shot ahead of Hatton - who double-bogeyed the last - Højgaard, Tommy Fleetwood, Tom Kim and JT Poston.
edit***
FYI, the "Scottish Open" has had a proud but rather disjointed past. Operating under the shadow cast by the Open, it has had several sponsors, sometimes no sponsors, interrupted by WWII, played on parkland as well as links, has had coverage on several TV networks, and had none, and has been attended by huge crowds like this year, and by next to nobody in years gone by.
In 1936 with WWII looming, a Scott called Jimmy Adams won the Penfold Scottish Open on Belleisle GC in Ayr. The prize money 750 pounds, Adams and England's Tommy Collinge played a 36 hole playoff after tying at 287. The Scot won in a rout, by 11 shots after shooting 68 69.
The only other Scot to win it was Monty (Colin Montgomerie) in 1999 when the event was having its run on the private, American owned parkland course at Loch Lomond. He shot -16 268 to win by 3 shots from Sergio Garcia and 2 Swedes, Michael Jonzon and Mats Lanner.
Canadians
Nick Taylor T19 68 70 65 71 -6
Corey Conners T19 72 65 71 66 -6
europeantour.com
Bryan Angus (edit)
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