MacIntyre Set To Become First Scot In Near A Century To Capture RBC Canadian Open

2 months ago by Comments Off on MacIntyre Set To Become First Scot In Near A Century To Capture RBC Canadian Open

Robert MacIntyre is set to become the first Scot in near on 100-years to capture the RBC Canadian Open.

MacIntyre, 27, will take a four-shot lead into the last round of Canada’s premier mens golfing event after his barnstorming finish on day three of the event being staged on the host Hamilton Golf and Country Club.

The proud Scot looked in trouble early in opening ‘moving day’ with a first hole bogey before a first birdie of his round at the fourth.  He was one-over again in bogeying the ninth but again got back to even with birdie on the 10th ahead of another dropped shot on the 13th threatened to derail his hunt for his first PGA Tour title in his maiden Tour season.

Though the proud Glencruitten Golf club member recovered superbly posting three straight birdies from the 14th before brilliantly sinking a 30-foot putt for eagle on the par five 17th to head into the clubhouse on 14 under folllowing a second straight score of 66 for his 14-under tally.

MacIntryre heads to the final round in the event first staged in 1904 four clear of three players – Kiwi Ryan Fox, American Ben Griffen and overwhelming home favourite Mackenzie Hughes – tied together in second place at 10-under.

World No. 2 and double back-to-back Canadian Open winner Rory McIlroy is T11th at seven-under.

It’s been 94-years since a Scot last captured the Canadian Open and that was legendary Edinburgh-born Tommy Armour who captured a third Canadian Open title in 1934 when he denied American Ky Laffoon.  Wikipedia reports the last Scot to win the event was Macdonald Smith in 1926 at Royal Montreal and that Armour was an American in winning first in 1927 and then again in 1930.  However, it was not till 1947 Armour took out dual Scottish and US citizenship.

Now MacIntyre with his father Dougie on the bag is set to also become a first Scot to win on the PGA Tour since Martin Laird won in 2020.

And MacIntyre, who has always been extra hard on himself, spoke of his attitude change that now has also primed to earn a two-year PGA Tour exemption, an invitation into the 2025 Masters and let’s not forget a whopping $1.7m first prize payout.

“I think it’s my attitude now. I’ve spoken about it all week. I’ve been in a good mindset from the get-go and had zero expectation at the start of the week,” he said.

“Obviously, the prep wasn’t good and having to get a visa and whatnot, it was just, it wasn’t working out well. But that is kind of something that’s helped my attitude. I’ve had less expectation, more just, let’s see how it goes.

“Yeah, just today I just stuck in there. I didn’t have it great at the start, but I feel like whenever I dropped a shot I bounced back with maybe two good shots into the green, and I would pick up a shot back. I just, it never got away from me. A bit of luck, a bit of myself being staying in the moment, staying calm. I got my reward with the putter in the end”.

MacIntyre talks about having his father on the bag:

Robert MacIntyre – 2024 RBC Canadian Open – Day Three Facts:

  • Ties the largest 54-hole lead on TOUR this season; fifth player to lead by four strokes through three rounds and the previous four went on to win (Jake Knapp/Mexico Open at Vidanta, Akshay Bhatia/Valero Texas Open, Chris Gotterup/Myrtle Beach Classic, Davis Riley/Charles Schwab Challenge)
  • Largest 54-hole lead at the RBC Canadian Open since led by four Dean Wilson in 2010 (finished 2nd)
  • First career 54-hole lead/co-lead on TOUR; previous-best position: T2, 2024 Myrtle Beach Classic (finished T13)
  • Career-best result on TOUR: 2nd, 2023 Genesis Scottish Open
  • Two-time winner on the DP World Tour (2020 Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Showdown, 2022 DS Automobiles Italian Open)


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