Robert MacIntyre wins RBC Canadian Open for 1st PGA Tour title

HAMILTON, Ontario — Robert MacIntyre — with father Dougie at his facet as his caddie and a loud tv drone shut by at instances, too — held on to win the RBC Canadian Open on Sunday for his first PGA Tour title.

4 strokes forward getting into the ultimate spherical at Hamilton Golf and Nation Membership, MacIntyre shot a 2-under 68 to beat taking part in companion Ben Griffin by a stroke. On the par-4 18th, the 27-year-old Scottish left-hander two-putted for par from 12 ft, holing out from 1½ ft.

“Goose bumps. It is unimaginable,” MacIntyre stated. “It is a dream of mine to play golf for a dwelling. It has been a dream of mine to win on the PGA Tour. … I simply can’t consider I completed it with my dad on the bag. The man’s taught me the way in which I play golf.”

MacIntyre completed at 16-under 264 for the breakthrough victory in his forty fifth profession PGA Tour begin. The previous McNeese State participant was a member of Europe’s profitable 2023 Ryder Cup staff and has two European tour victories, the 2020 Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Showdown and 2022 Italian Open.

“I used to be in a canine combat there,” MacIntyre stated. “Clearly, Ben made it troublesome coming within the stretch. He performed properly. It is simply unimaginable to do that with my dad on the bag and have my girlfriend right here, and I am certain there is a celebration occurring again dwelling in Oban.”

MacIntyre was agitated by a tv drone he thought was too shut and loud.

“If it did not go away, I used to be going to begin throwing my golf equipment at it,” MacIntyre stated. “That is how aggravated I used to be getting. … I imply, it is a large wasp. I requested them to do away with it. They did.”

MacIntyre turned to his father on an emergency foundation after going by a sequence of caddies up to now yr.

“This week, once I phoned him to return and caddie for me, to be sincere, I used to be simply coming right here to play a golf event,” MacIntyre stated. “There was no expectation, there was quite a bit occurring with visas and stuff throughout the week and to win it with him on the bag is simply — to be sincere, I nonetheless cannot consider that it occurred.”

It was an emotional victory for each.

“Every little thing that I’ve completed in my life has been with the help of my household,” MacIntyre stated. “The sport of golf was type of handed down the generations. I acquired it from my dad. … We have a home between the place you cross the street for 4 holes over the street at Glencruitten and we used to exit each evening in the summertime, regardless of the climate. We’d play 4 holes each evening. He taught me the sport of golf.”

“Unbelievable,” an emotional Dougie MacIntyre stated of being part of his son’s victory, throughout a televised interview with CBS Sports activities. “I am a grass cutter … it is unbelievable.”

Griffin had a 65. He parred the 18th after birdieing the earlier three holes.

“I fought arduous,” Griffin stated. “It felt like there was a lid on the cup for many of the day for me. I hit so many fairly good putts, I would not say like striped putts, however fairly good putts and simply stored burning edges. A pair dangerous putts, however stayed affected person.”

Victor Perez of France was third at 14 beneath after his second straight 64.

Two-time Canadian Open champion Rory McIlroy additionally shot 64 to tie for fourth with Tom Kim (64) at 13 beneath. McIlroy gained in 2019 — the final time the event was in Hamilton — and once more in 2022 at St. George’s in Toronto.

“Three actually good rounds of golf, one not so good one,” McIlroy stated. “Felt a bit of out of types on Friday. Did a very good vary session and type of rectified it.”

Corey Conners was the highest Canadian, taking pictures a 65 to achieve 12 beneath.

“Undoubtedly one thing to be pleased with,” Conners stated. “Yeah, clearly disappointing to not win the massive trophy, however, yeah, it is a cool honor.”

Fellow Canadian Mackenzie Hughes, tied for second getting into the day, was one other shot again after a 70.

“Fairly gutted,” Hughes stated. “I wished this one fairly badly. … This one will sting for some time.”

Final yr at Oakdale in Toronto, Nick Taylor made a 72-foot eagle putt on the fourth gap of a playoff in opposition to Tommy Fleetwood to grow to be the primary Canadian to win the occasion since 1954.

The Related Press contributed to this report.