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.
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.
Elsewhere, Japan’s Yuka Saso powered away on the back nine to win her second US Women’s Open title Sunday, carding a two-under-par 68 for a three-shot victory at Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania.
Saso finished with a four-under-par total of 276 to claim her second LPGA tour title three years after winning the US Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco.
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MacIntyre wins first PGA Tour title at Canadian Open, McIlroy tied fourth
LAST UPDATE | 2 Jun
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.”
Rory McIlroy finished in a tie for fourth after his 64, a bogey free six-under par round, that left him three shots behind the winner.
Shane Lowry signed off with a 68, to finish four-under for the tournament and in a tie for 33rd.
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.
Elsewhere, Japan’s Yuka Saso powered away on the back nine to win her second US Women’s Open title Sunday, carding a two-under-par 68 for a three-shot victory at Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania.
Saso finished with a four-under-par total of 276 to claim her second LPGA tour title three years after winning the US Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco.
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Golf Rory McIlroy