For a second occasion in some 10 months and Scot Robert MacIntye has found himself playing second fiddle to American JJ Spaun.

The reigning US Opean champion Spaun muscled his way into the clubhouse lead in posting a closing 67 for a 17-under tally as rain continued to fall on the host TPC San Antonio course in the Alamo City.

MacIntyre was playing some 30 minutes behind the American and put himself to within a shot of Spaun playing the par-5 72nd hole but only to play a wild hook second shot, well right of the fairway on route to a par when the Oban lefty needed a birdie to send the event into the play-off.

The Scot looked guttered having had the tournament in the palm of his hand for two rounds but eventually posting a closing 70 and finish in a three-way tie for second at 16-under.

THAT MAN SPAUN AGAIN ….

As JJ Spaun denies Robert MacIntyre @valerotxopen
victory & for a second time in some 10 months after the American captured @usopengolf from the

MacIntyre not helped after a wild hook shot down the final fairway @TPCSanAntonio

Read:… pic.twitter.com/oUqo6RLyHw

— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) April 5, 2026

After being 14-under for the first 36 holes, MacIntyre disappointingly played the closing 36 in just two-under.

For the opening two rounds MacIntyre seemed to be a golfer that could not do a thing wrong leading the prestigous PGA Tour by four shots and there being much Masters-related talk that the super-talented Scot could be the next Home Of Golf golfer to be fitted with an Augusta National members green jacket.

MacIntyre’s game looked very impressive and moreso with a new driver in the bag.

However, MacIntyre with two rounds to play was about to face his challengers and one of those was former Valero Texas Open winner and also the reigning US Open champ Spaun, who trailed eight shots behind the Scot with two rounds to play.

Saturday’s rain-reduced round saw MacIntyre only able to play six holes and with play stopped near noon and eventually halted without any further play at 6pm.

Sunday dawned with the rain continuing and with MacIntyre and Ludwig Aberg being out for in the same group for a fourth day running, teeing-off the par-3 seventh in the third round and MacIntyre holing a superb 10-footer for birdie.

Bizarrely, it would be the Scot’s last birdie in 21 holes as he fought to stay in the mix but not helped by bogeys at nine and a clumsy three-putt bogey at the 18th in a level par round of 72 but still good enough through 54 holes to remain in the lead albeit by a shot at 14-under.

MacIntyre had 41 minutes to grab some lunch and do what he needed to do before his 12.o1pm final round tee time.

Once again, it was Aberg, and his playing partner for a fourth round, making the early move in birdieing both his second and third holes.

Though while most were moving forward – including England’s Matt Wallace and former San Antonia winner and Spaun plus his fellow Americans Andrew Putnam and Michael Kim – MacIntyre was treading water with nothing happening.

His finally ended his run of nine fourth round pars in holing an eight-footer for birdie at the par-4 10th but gave the shot back in three-putting from six feet at the next.

Top Scot guttered to finish a shot shy of victory at the Valero Texas Open. Image Getty

MacIntyre pared the par-5 14th when his US Open rival Spaun pared the last to grab the clubhouse lead on 17-under, leaving the Scot three back and four to play.

MacIntyre wasn’t done as he superbly rolled-in a 14-footer for birdie at the 15th to move to 15-under and only three back of Spaun with three to play and he then had the crowd on their feet at the short par-4 17th, brilliantly holing a 16-footer for an eagle ‘2’ and matching Spaun’s eagle at the same.

MacIntyre was now surging and needing to birdie the par-5 18th to tie Spaun at 17-under.

Spaun had ended his round some 30-minutes post his round and after signing plenty of autographs before heading into the clubhouse, and in a mirror of last June’s US Open when it was MacIntyre anxiously waiting for Spaun to finish.

Spaun was naturally delighted with the result and not only winning the event for a second occasion but also earns a second pair of Texas cowboy boots.

“This game is so crazy,“ said Spaun.  “I haven’t been feeling at the form that I wanted tobe based off of last season. Just trying to take each day as it comes and accepting what I have.

“Just got such a great team behind me that’s been supporting me. Just means a lot to come back and win here at a place that’s been so good to me.

“There’s just so much that comes with winning big events like that, like a U.S. Open or any other major.

“I put a lot of pressure on myself this year to start the year, and a lot of expectations. It’s the complete opposite of the mantra I had all year last year that really helped me, so I tried to get back to that. Went into the last few seeks starting at THE PLAYERS just trying to be freed up and put less pressure on myself. It’s been trying, but sticking to that mantra has
really helped me.“

There is no post tournament quotes from MacIntyre but for ure, it’s more disappointment and he’ll head to the Masters wondering where it all went wrong.

In his seven events this season he’s posted a second and a pair of fourth place results.