All of Scotland breathed a sigh of relief after Robert MacIntyre holed a nerve-tingling final hole par putt to make the cut right on the mark at the Omega European Masters at Crans Montana.
MacIntyre’s effort in posting a second round 69 and finishing in a share of 62nd, and making the cut-off right on the mark at three-under has kept alive, albeit agonizingly, his quest to secure the last automatic spot into the European Ryder Cup team.
MacIntyre had missed the cut in his prior two Swiss appearances and looked headed for a third Swiss weekend off after a disappointing day with the putter.
The Oban lefty played the second round in the company of Poland’s Adrian Meronk, and with the reigning Australian Open champ racing to nine-under through 16 holes on the Crans-sur-Sierre course.
ALL OF 🏴 BREATHES HUGE SIGH OF RELIEF …
After @robert1lefty @GlencruittenG makes @omegaEUmasters right on the -3⃣ cut-off mark 👏
Read – https://t.co/S5pLxDZMp1
✅ @TOURMISS @Record_Sport (Bernie) pic.twitter.com/k8BHrCRhlj
— Golf & Science News (@TOURMISS) September 1, 2023
However, Meronk then bogeyed 17 and in losing a ball up the final hole he had to return to the tee ahead of taking a double-bogey ‘6’ in a score of 64 and end the round sharing fifth place at nine-under.
Ryder Cup certainty Matt Fitzpatrick heads the field at 12-under by a shot, also signing for a six-under 64.
MacIntyre began his round with a bogey before birdies at the fifth and sixth holes. He stalled for the next eight holes before a wild tee shot right into the crowd and the tree line at the 17th resulting in a bogey ‘5’.
He then found a fairway bunker 100-yards from the green at the last but it would turn into a 15-minute wait as Meronk had to return to the tee to play a third shot.
MacIntyre’s demeanor looked as though he had the weight of the world on his shoulders walking up to inspect the green and with a clearly stressed Scot finding the back of the green not far from Meronk’s ball, and after much discussion with newly-appointed Tour referee and former Tour player, Graeme Storm who allowed him to take a drop from close to a grandstand from where MacIntyre chipped to some four-feet and holed out for a par.
MacIntyre said: “I am happy with the way I fought but I missed so many putts. I was trying to stay calm all the way around but I was missing so many putts from inside 10-feet.
“I was then fighting to make the cut coming up the last, and I’ve just managed to sneek over the line.
“Adrian having to go back to the tee on 18 actually gave me some time to settle down and walk-up to the green to see where I could hit, as I was in position ‘z’ in the bunker I was in rather than the one further back down the fairway.
“Standing over the last putt, and having missed so many out there today, I was thinking about so many things but thankfully it dropped”.
MacIntyre had travelled up mountains knowing that he first needed to make the halfway cut, as he’s done, to be assured of securing the third and last automatic spot into Luke Donald’s side.
However, should Meronk win or finish second on his own then MacIntyre must finish T7th or better to secure the last automatic spot into Luke Donald’s side.
Though if Meronk shares second place on Sunday night, then MacIntyre must finish 55th or better to cement a maiden Ryder Cup cap.
Fifer Connor Syme heads the Scots posting a second day 67 to be sharing eighth place at eight-under.
