Genesis Scottish Open: Robert MacIntyre continues an incredible 2024 season
Imagine winning your first PGA Tour event with your dad on the bag, in your first full year on the Tour. Nothing could top that feeling, right? Well, Robert MacIntyre may disagree, or at least have another victory that could generate a similar feeling. MacIntyre becomes only the second from Scotland to win the Scottish Open after firing a final round 67. It wasn’t until finishing up the 10th on Sunday did Bob feel like he could string together enough good holes to take home the trophy. As they were walking off of the 10th green, he said to his caddie, “…when we walked off of 10, I said to him, "16 or 17 could win this."Because no one was going -- no one was getting away. No one was making a move. Obviously the bogey on 10 was disappointing but I just -- I said to yous last night, other thing I can do is give 110 percent and that's what I've done. I got lucky at 16 and took the one chance I got on 18, and it's just my week.” When it’s your week, it is simply your week. And what a week it was, what a Sunday afternoon it was, to stand on the 18th after winning your national open championship and hear your national anthem echoing through the crowd. This victory comes one year after finishing runner-up to Rory McIlroy and witnessing a plaque commemorating that victory be placed in the 18th fairway. Earning his second title on tour in the 2024 season also gives a big boost of confidence heading into next week’s Open Championship at Royal Troon, along with 500 FedEx Cup points to move up to 16th in the standings, and likely moving inside the top-20 in the World Golf Rankings. Oh, and making that practice round at Royal Troon tomorrow, highly unlikely that it’ll happen after MacIntyre begins celebrating this victory tonight.
Ludvig Aberg saw another lead slowly slip away on a Sunday, this time it came down to shooting a final round 73 and dropping into a tie for fourth. He has shown flashes of playing brilliance in many events this season, including climbing the leaderboard at the U.S. Open in Pinehurst back in June before faltering down the stretch. He still has a very, very bright future ahead of him and is learning how to close out a tournament. And once he figures that out…watch out for the next international player to make a run for World Number 1.
Adam Scott returned to true form this week and nearly ended a four-year winless drought. While certainly disappointing for Scott, it has to give him a charge heading to Royal Troon this week. He finally feels that his game is back a very high level and the best it has been in a while. Look for a hot charging Adam Scott to make some noise next week and contend for another major championship.
Rory McIlroy looked like he may successfully defend his title heading into the back nine on Saturday afternoon, but it wasn’t to be this year. However, it was a strong outing from the 2023 Genesis Scottish Open champion following a very disappointing finish to his U.S. Open in June. This was McIlroy’s first competitive event in nearly one month and he looks to be in solid form following the time away from the game. It will be very interesting to see if this tune-up before Royal Troon is enough to propel Rory to hoist another Claret Jug.
