Robert MacIntyre, with his father Dougie at his side as an ’emergency’ caddie, broke down in tears after winning his first ever PGA title at the Canadian Open in Ontario.
Four strokes ahead entering the final round at Hamilton Golf and Country Club on Sunday, MacIntyre shot a 2-under 68 to beat playing partner Ben Griffin by a stroke. On the par-4 18th, the 27-year-old Scottish left-hander two-putted for par from 12 feet, holing out from one-and-a-half feet.
That’s a far contrast from the situation that MacIntyre found himself in a week ago, when he made an emergency phone call home and offered his dad the bag after not making the cut and changing caddies four times within the last 18 months.
‘Goose bumps. It’s incredible,’ MacIntyre said. ‘It’s a dream of mine to play golf for a living. It’s been a dream of mine to win on the PGA Tour. … I just can’t believe I’ve done it with my dad on the bag. The guy’s taught me the way I play golf.’
Asked what it’s like to witness his son’s first win on the Tour in person, MacIntyre Sr., who returns to the U.K. on Monday, said while appearing emotional: ‘Unbelievable. I’m [just] a grass cutter.’
Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre (R) and his father, Dougie, (L), after winning the Canadian Open
The father-son duo were emotional after winning on the 18th green during the final round
MacIntyre finished at 16-under 264 for the breakthrough victory in his 45th career PGA Tour start. The former McNeese State player was a member of Europe’s winning 2023 Ryder Cup team and has two European tour victories, the 2020 Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Showdown and 2022 Italian Open.
‘I was in a dog fight there,’ MacIntyre said. ‘Obviously, Ben made it difficult coming in the stretch. He played well. It´s just incredible to do this with my dad on the bag and have my girlfriend here and I´m sure there´s a party going on back home in Oban.’
Griffin had a 65. He parred the 18th after birdieing the previous three holes.
‘I fought hard,’ Griffin said. ‘It felt like there was a lid on the cup for most of the day for me. I hit so many pretty good putts, I wouldn’t say like striped putts, but pretty good putts and just kept burning edges. A couple bad putts, but stayed patient.’
Victor Perez of France was third at 14 under after his second straight 64.
MacIntyre finished at 16-under 264 for the breakthrough win in his 45th career PGA Tour start
A week ago, MacIntyre called his dad to fill in as his caddie after not making the cut in Canada
Two-time Canadian Open champion Rory McIlroy also shot 64 to tie for fourth with Tom Kim (64) at 13 under. McIlroy won in 2019 the last time the tournament was in Hamilton and again in 2022 at St. George´s in Toronto.
‘Three really good rounds of golf, one not so good one,’ McIlroy said. ‘Felt a little out of sorts on Friday. Did a good range session and sort of rectified it.’
Corey Conners was the top Canadian, shooting a 65 to reach 12 under.
‘Definitely something to be proud of,’ Conners said. ‘Yeah, obviously disappointing to not win the big trophy, but, yeah, it’s a cool honor.
Fellow Canadian Mackenzie Hughes, tied for second entering the day, was another shot back after a 70.
Last year at Oakdale in Toronto, Nick Taylor made a 72-foot eagle putt on the fourth hole of a playoff against Tommy Fleetwood to become the first Canadian to win the event since 1954.
