Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre edged closer to a maiden Masters invitation and clearly buoyed by finishing just a shot outside of second place in the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa.
The Oban lefty was headed to Dubai and his final two events of the year snatching six birdies, including four in six holes at the start of his inward half, in a five-under par 67 for a nine-hole tally on the Leopard Creek course.
MacIntye’s score was the lowest round by two shots over the last day among the remaining 65 in the co-sanctioned field.
South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout, 27, emerged from ‘train wrecks’ atop of the board capturing a second Tour title thanks to a last day 69 and won by four shots at 14-under par.
Four players – England’s Richard Bland (70), American Sean Crocker (72), and who took an ‘8’ at the last, South African Jayden Schafer (75) and Poland’s Adrian Merouk (76) – shared second on 10-under par.
Merouk, looking to become the first Pole to win on Tour, looked on in total despair when his approach shot at the par-5 18th found the water guarding the green ahead of a closing bogey, and after earlier grabbing just two birdies but taking three other bogeys and a double-bogey.
MacIntyre entered the South African event at No. 63 in the world jumped two places to No. 61 while Bezuidenhout has leaped to World No. 41 and the assurance of a second Masters appearance in five months.
Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre finishes a shot out of second at the Alfred Dunhill Championship to edge closer to a top-50 world ranking
For MacIntyre to join Sandy Lyle and Martin Laird next April he will need to be inside the top-50 at 31st December.
And after a best round all week at Leopard Creek, MacIntyre was headed to the UAE still very much on the prowl.
He said: “I played great today. I came to this event for this exact reason for the weather today and the condition of the golf course. I thought these tougher conditions would happen a little bit earlier in the week but it happened today and it suited my golf game to an absolute tee.
“So, that’s why I came here to South Africa as it was a great preparation for what I am trying to do, and also trying to get World Ranking points to get myself into the top-50 in the world.
“That good final round now suits me for going into my last two events in Dubai.
“So, looking ahead to Dubai my golf game is in great shape and while there is a few things to tweak I have my golf coach out in Dubai for the two weeks.
“I will see him at the course on Tuesday morning so the game is in good shape. I am driving the ball really well. It’s going miles and that is the way it was last year while I also feel that I have sharpened-up my short game and with my putting still needing a little bit of work.
“The way I putted today I would say is the best I’ve putted in a long time.”
Fellow Scot Scott Jamieson has remained in South Africa for the South African Open but failed to blow out the candles on Saturday’s 37th birthday with third day 72 and leaving him too much to do on the last day.
The Florida-based Scot was four-under through 13 last day holes but then bogeyed 14 and three-putted, and from some 60-feet, the par-3 16th.
Jamieson signed for a 70 to finish tied with MacIntyre.
