Oban’s Robert MacIntyre brilliantly captured a maiden Tour win at the Cyprus Showdown and in the process becoming the first Scottish-born lefty to win on the European Tour.
MacIntyre, 24, went within inches of an ace at the 17th and then also birdied the last in posting a seven-under 64 to win by a shot from Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura (65).
Last year’s ‘Rookie of the Year’ finally broke through for a first victory toast in his 45th Tour event.
Scotland’s Bob MacIntyre captures a maiden Tour title at the Cyprus Showdown
Oban’s Robert MacIntyre brilliantly emerged from the mental strain of the coronavirus lockdown to capture a maiden Tour win at the Cyprus Showdown and t
MacIntyre, 24, went within inches of an ace at the 17th and then also birdied the last in posting a seven-under 64 to win by a shot from Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura (65).
The Scot had finished runner-up on three occasions last year in being named ‘Rookie of the Year’ and he’s finally broken through for a first victory toast in his 45th Tour event.
In the process, MacIntyre’s created Tour history in becoming the first Scottish-born lefty to win on Tour.
However, it was an emotional MacIntyre in accepting the gleaming silver Cyprus trophy.
He said: “It’s unbelievable and it’s what I’ve dreamed of as a wee kid.
“I’ve been watching Scottish Open’s as Loch Lomond and then to finally play on Tour and give myself a lot of chances last year.
“But it’s been a tough lockdown for me and the family. The first nine to 10 weeks was fine as I had things to do. I was trying to lose weight and become stronger.
“I was setting myself golf and we were on the ‘Peloton’ almost every day and once we reached the target there was nothing else to do. I was like wasting time, wasting away here and I struggled mentally.
“So, with the support of my family I have coped mentally and just to come through this week to is amazing.”
“I’ve changed a lot of things including a Mike (Thomson) on the bag so to finally get over the line means the world to me.”
His final round was a mix of eight birdies and it could have easily been more in missing birdie two to three birdies over his inward half and that being down to a ‘far from hot’ putter.
No doubt about the shot of his round in landing a 165-yard, 9-iron shot to just inches from the cup at 17.
Victory earned MacIntyre a £ 180,00 first prize cheque and also lift him off No. 100 and up to just outside the top-60 on the World Rankings.
MacIntyre had ended last year 65th in the rankings to miss out on this week’s Masters but he’s now determined more than ever to end 2020 inside the top-50 to secure a maiden Augusta tee time.
He said: “It’s been my goal since I first started playing. I know the level of golf that I am expecting myself to play, and my team are also expecting me to play but I just wasn’t quite there.
“The last couple of weeks, the past five to six weeks, I’ve started to see the ball fight that I have been looking for.
“I just have to set my standards really high and I know if I can do that I’m sure a top-50 on the rankings will take care of itself.”
MacIntyre arrives back to Oban and with a first Tour trophy to find place of pride in his recently-purchased bachelor pad.
He said: “I’ve just started to do up the apartment a little bit, particularly in the living room, so there will be a nice spot for the trophy.”
MacIntyre is also the 25th different Scot to win on the Tour while earning a £ 180,00 first prize cheque that will lift him off No. 100 and up to a career high of 62nd on the World Rankings.
And he is the first ‘lefty’ to win on the European Tour in four years since American Paul Peterson won the 2016 Czech Masters.
Three years earlier in 2013 golf’s No. 1 ranked lefty Phil Mickelson captured the back-to-back AIS Scottish Open and Open Championship titles.
