Golf

Robert MacIntyre wins his first PGA Tour title at the RBC Canadian Open

MacIntyre carded a final round of 68 at Hamilton Golf and Country Club to finish 16 under par, a shot ahead of home favourite Ben Griffin.

Robert MacIntyre (left) has won the RBC Canadian Open with his father Dougie on the bag (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Robert MacIntyre (left) has won the RBC Canadian Open with his father Dougie on the bag (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP) (Frank Gunn/AP)
By Phil Casey, PA Golf Correspondent

Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre recovered from a shaky start and held off a host of challengers to win his first PGA Tour title in the RBC Canadian Open.

MacIntyre carded a final round of 68 at Hamilton Golf and Country Club to finish 16 under par, a shot ahead of home favourite Ben Griffin.

Griffin had piled on the pressure with birdies on the 15th, 16th and 17th to close within one of his playing partner, but could not find a fourth in a row on the last to potentially force a play-off.

That meant MacIntyre had the luxury of two-putting from 10 feet for the win before embracing his father Dougie, who had been called on to caddie at short notice.

Asked why he was so emotional at the win, MacIntyre gestured to his dad as he told CBS: “Because of this.

“I’m speechless to be honest. This is just everything for me and family, my girlfriend, my team. I can’t believe I’ve done it with him on the bag.

“I’m crying with joy but I’m laughing because I didn’t think it was possible.”

Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre hits an approach shot on the 17th fairway during the final round of the RBC Canadian Open (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre hits an approach shot on the 17th fairway during the final round of the RBC Canadian Open (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) (Nathan Denette/AP)

MacIntyre had seen his four-shot overnight lead wiped out in the space of four holes after he bogeyed the first and home favourite Mackenzie Hughes made a hat-trick of early birdies.

However, MacIntyre responded superbly to birdie the fourth, seventh and eighth to regain control of the £7.4million event, despite having to ask for a drone being used for the television coverage to be moved on several occasions before he finally got his wish.

Another birdie on the 11th was followed by a wild tee shot on the 12th into a water hazard and another bogey on the 13th opened the door for the chasing pack, but the Ryder Cup star crucially birdied the 15th and safely parred the last three holes.

MacIntyre has made no secret of his struggle to adapt to living in the United States this season, but benefited hugely from a three-week spell back in Scotland in April and contended for the Myrtle Beach Classic before finishing eighth in the US PGA Championship.

“I was going down the last there and my dad’s trying to tell me to stay focused and swing smooth because yesterday I got a little bit too fast, but in my head I wasn’t listening to him,” MacIntyre added.

“I wanted to win this for my dad, this is the guy that’s taught me the game of golf and I just can’t believe I done this with him on the bag.”

Dougie, who is head greenkeeper at Glencruitten Golf Club in Oban: said: “It’s unbelievable. I’m a grasscutter not a caddie.

“I got phoned last Saturday night, I’m sitting on the couch at home eight o’clock Saturday night and I’m (thinking) can I leave my job here, I’m busy at work.

“Eight o’clock the next morning I’m on a flight out here and wow.”

Asked if his dad was now a permanent fixture on the bag, MacIntyre added: “No, dad’s on the flight home on Monday and I think me and my girlfriend might go home as well and just have a hell of a party because this is incredible.”