MacIntyre became the first Scot since Collin Montgomerie (1999) to win his nation's open title
Robert MacIntyre won the Scottish Open on Sunday, which should inspire a lot of enthusiasm and feel-good stories about the man from Oban. But given the way it happened at the end, it's difficult to know how to feel about the biggest victory of MacIntyre's career.
Following a 63 on Saturday in the third round, MacIntyre looked as if he was a bit stalled out on Sunday before getting his round going with a long birdie putt at the par-3 14th. However, after a par at the 15th, he hit his drive on No. 16 into some thick rough up the right.
Moments later, MacIntyre was taking a free drop from that brush. CBS Sports' Dottie Pepper explained that MacIntyre was standing on a sprinkler head for what undoubtedly would have been a pitch out. Because of this stance, which Pepper said he only knew about because he was wearing metal spikes causing a crunch against the sprinkler, MacIntyre was afforded a free drop.
MacIntyre got up and down for eagle from that drop to tie Adam Scott for the lead.
After a par on No. 17, MacIntyre made the birdie of his life at the last to win the tournament. And while MacIntyre did nothing illegal, it's rare that a free drop such as this has such an outsized and clear effect on the final round of a golf tournament. It's also unfortunate for MacIntyre -- who lost this tournament by one last year when Rory McIlroy finished birdie-birdie -- that this is now part of the conversation.
Regardless, it is a win that MacIntyre has dreamed of his entire life. He cried after last year's loss but likely far less than he will cry after this year's victory. With the win, MacIntyre became the second Scot in history and first since Collin Montgomerie (1999) to win his home country's open title.
"To come home and have the home support," he said on Saturday. "I said it from the start, I just want to be in with a chance going into Sunday and I've given myself that chance. Back home in Scotland, I said it from the start, it's one I want."
Now he's got it. And it's one that will be talked about for a long time in MacIntyre's home country -- mostly for all the right reasons but also for one massive reason that helped MacIntyre to victory. Grade: A+
Here are the rest of our grades for the 2024 Scottish Open.
T4. Rory McIlroy (-14): It was a nice connector week for McIlroy between the U.S. Open and Open Championship next week. This sounds silly, but I've been big on guys who play well but aren't truly in contention the week before a major championship, and McIlroy fit that description perfectly this week. It was a nice -- if unsurprising -- return following his gaffes at the U.S. Open. His performance this week was basically the level he's been playing at for the last three or four months (McIlroy has six consecutive top 15 finishes in individual events), and I expect more of the same when he goes to Royal Troon next week where he finished T5 in 2016. Grade: A
T4. Ludvig Åberg (-14): It was a lousy Sunday for Åberg, who struggled from a similar position at the U.S. Open at Pinehurst. Åberg played the par 5s in 2 over on Sunday, which is no way to go win a golf tournament when you're one of the longest players in the world and have played them in 9 under through the first three rounds. Grade: B
T34. Tommy Fleetwood (-9): Fleetwood got stuck in neutral on Sunday when so many others were going low. He shot 71 in the final round to fall all the way to T34. It's true that the afternoon played more difficult than the morning wave when players were shooting in the low 60s, but it was a disappointing final 18 holes from Fleetwood. Still, he's in a perfect spot to contend next week at Royal Troon and will be among my picks to finish in the top 10. Grade: C+
MC. Jordan Spieth (-1): Spieth was my one-and-done pick this week, so it was double disappointing to see him miss the cut ahead of the Open Championship next week. After he surged on the weekend at the John Deere Classic last week, I thought he may have found at least something to take to Scotland for this two-week stretch of the Scottish Open and Open Championship. But too many mistakes in the first round when he shot 1-over 71 meant another missed cut for Spieth, his 11th consecutive tournament in which he has failed to finish in the top 10 (four of which were missed cuts). Grade: F
