A beautiful and emotional battle was witnessed at The Renaissance Club on the final day of the Genesis Scottish Open. It started with Ludvig Aberg (-14) as the clear favourite, then everything pointed to Adam Scott (-17) being the one to clinch the victory, and an eagle on hole 16 put Robert MacIntyre (-18) at the top of the tournament tied with the Australian. The Scot ended up winning the throne at home with a spectacular birdie on the 18th.
The Scot was seeking his personal revenge after last year’s victory slipped away due to a sublime Rory McIlroy. He wanted to make amends at home and for a Scot to win the Open in his country again since Collin Montgomerie did it in 1999. He has achieved it and in what a way. With five holes to go, he was three strokes behind the leader at that time, Adam Scott. On the 14th flag, he sank a putt from 13 metres that changed the momentum of the round. It put him two strokes from the top.
That’s when Bob started to believe in his chances alongside a crowd devoted to their hero. At that moment, the luck that every champion needs came. From the tee on hole 16, he went far to the right and the ball was completely sunk. A very complicated shot, but so lucky that when he went to hit the ball his right foot stepped on a sprinkler. He was able to relieve himself without penalty and his ball was perfectly placed. He took full advantage of the opportunity that lady luck offered him. A spectacular shot left him a three-metre option for eagle. Bob knew how to interpret the signs from the sky and he sank it without hesitation.
He had two holes left. Adam Scott handed in his total card of -17 after finishing with two pars. Robert had it in his hand. It was not easy to scratch a stroke from the course, but if Rory took it away from him a year ago with a birdie on the 18th, MacIntyre has done the same to win the trophy at Renaissance. A great putt from five metres gave him the victory ahead of an Adam Scott who was on the verge of a new victory five years later. The emotion of the boy born in Oban 27 years ago made it very clear how important this victory has been for him.
This is his third victory on the DP World Tour after those achieved in Cyprus 2020 and Rome in 2022 and the second on the PGA Tour after the victory in Canada this same season. The first Rolex Series in the bag. A high-calibre victory for a player who is growing by leaps and bounds. There is no doubt that for Bob this is the most emotional victory of his career.
Honours for an Adam Scott who will turn 44 next and who played a textbook final round. Only an excellent final stretch from MacIntyre closed the doors of victory for him.
The performance of the Swedish Ludvig Aberg (-14) was from more to less. He was three strokes ahead after the bogey on hole 2 of Bob MacIntyre. It seemed that the Swede was going for his first victory of the season, but his round faded away like a sugar cube. Despite everything, he started the last nine holes of the tournament in the lead, but an uninspired day from the tee and three bogeys between holes 11 and 16 condemned any chance of victory. The Swede adds his seventh top ten of the year, which is sure to start tasting a little for a player who, we insist, was an amateur thirteen months ago.
Special mention deserves the round of Romain Langasque (-15). The Frenchman was third after handing in a card of 64 strokes. Rory McIlroy finally finished fourth tied after a final round of 68 strokes. Only the putter has prevented the Northern Irishman
One of the great battles of the day was the fight for the three tickets to the Open that is held next week at Royal Troon. The three players to achieve this were Aaron Rai (-14), Richard Mansell (-13) and Alex Noren (-13). Special merit has been Richard Mansell who came from far behind and has matched the course record to sneak into the third Open of his career. Aaron Rai, 63 strokes this Sunday and Noren, 65 strokes, also signed a great last round to overtake Antoine Rozner, Cam Davis and Erik Van Rooyen who were the three players who had the ticket in their pocket this time on Saturday.
The Spanish Alejandro del Rey (-12) has signed a great Sunday round and for a good stretch of the day dreamed of making a splash and sneaking into the Open. In the end, a card of 65 strokes put him in the top 15 of the tournament. The other Spaniard in contention, Jorge Campillo, finished in 26th place after a final card of 67 strokes.
