SCOTLAND’S ROBERT MacIntyre defeated US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick in a playoff to win his second DP World Tour title in the DS Automobiles Italian Open.
MacIntyre birdied the first extra hole at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, the venue for next year’s Ryder Cup, after he and Fitzpatrick had finished tied on 14 under par, a shot ahead of France’s Victor Perez.
Pre-tournament favourite Rory McIlroy, who was within a shot of the lead until hitting his tee shot on the 16th into the water, finished fourth on 12 under.
“This means everything,” MacIntyre told Sky Sports. “I was down and out two or three months ago.
“I didn’t know what I was doing, didn’t know where to go, but we spoke to the right people, started working with (coach) Simon Shanks and I’ve hit two of the perfect golf shots into the last there. There’s so much hard work gone into this.
“I hit a terrible shot on 15 which I thought was backs against the wall but we dug in. I’ve got a dogged attitude, never give up. I get punched but I punch back. The birdies coming in were massive and thankfully I got one there in the play-off.”
Speaking about next year’s Ryder Cup after winning the second qualifying event, the left-hander added: “It’s my main goal, it’s my only goal for the next year. I’ve done it on the golf course.
“At the start of the week I didn’t think this week was going to be the one with the style of golf course, the way it was playing, but we worked on a few things on Tuesday and Wednesday and I felt so in control of my golf ball this week.”
MacIntyre began the final round three shots off Fitzpatrick’s lead, but stormed to the top of the leaderboard with six birdies in a front nine of 29.
A bogey on the 10th briefly halted MacIntyre’s charge, but he birdied the 12th and 13th and at that point was three clear of Fitzpatrick, who had followed 10 straight pars with a birdie on the 11th.
However, Fitzpatrick then came agonisingly close to an albatross on the par-five 12th as his approach from 212 yards hit the centre of the pin and left him just three feet for eagle, while MacIntyre was dropping a shot on the 14th.
MacIntyre also bogeyed the 15th but birdied the 16th and 18th to set the clubhouse target, with Fitzpatrick also making a birdie on the final hole to force the play-off after dropping a shot on the 17th.
There were other Irish players in action — Cormac Sharvin, Paul Dunne and Jonathan Caldwell all had previously missed the cut going into the weekend, while Niall Kearney ended today tied for 71st after finishing on six over par.
You can view the full leaderboard here.
How on earth was Gearoid Hegarty overlooked for a nomination? He was one of Limerick’s best players this year ffs!
Agreed Hegarty was a colossus
Diarmuid Cody really?????
HOW on earth did he get a nomination?
He was dropped for the Carlow game and they got hammered by Wexford.
And taken off at half time against Dublin
Not a Cork man in sight. Further proof as if any were needed of how low the standard has fallen in Rebel land. Frank take another bow!
Very true but Limerick will get 11-12 players on the team with McDonald the only cert outside of them of a place.
Foley for Wexford is a cert too, Liam ryan also deserves a spot. De burca of Waterford too.
Bobby Duggan will definitely be on that team as well.
Duggan was roasted in the Munster final. Can’t see him getting selected. He was brilliant against Waterford though.
It mad to say but you can be sure a few the Kilkenny players who didn’t get nominated will end up with a pocket of All Ireland senior medals anyway…
Ha is Galway’s Paul Killeen not nominated? Gave probably the best full-back display of the summer in the semi against Limerick.
What nonsense
Galway come closer than any team all year and get a couple of token nominations. Open draw please
Why isn’t Cathal Mannion named?? Surely he should walk onto that team given he’s 1 of the front runners for young hurler of the year!!!
To be fair Mannion had a quiet game in the semi final and the nominations are taken purely from the U-21 games and not the senior ones.