McIlroy rally not enough as McIntyre prevails in Canada

A closing round 64 saw Rory McIlroy charge up the leaderboard, but it was Scotland’s Bob MacIntyre who recovered from a shaky start to win his first PGA Tour title in the RBC Canadian Open.

McIlroy began the day seven shots off the clubhouse lead set by the Scot, but began in blistering form to close that gap.

FINAL LEADERBOARD

The four-time major winner birdied four of his first six holes, but was unable to maintain that form on the back nine, picking up birdies at 12 and 17 for his lowest round of the week to finish on 13-under par and a share of fourth.

MacIntyre carded a final round of 68 at Hamilton Golf and Country Club to finish 16-under par, a shot ahead of home favourite Ben Griffin.

Griffin had piled on the pressure with birdies on the 15th, 16th and 17th to close within one of his playing partner, but could not find a fourth in a row on the last to potentially force a play-off.

That meant MacIntyre had the luxury of two-putting from 10 feet for the win before embracing his father Dougie, who had been called on to caddie at short notice.

Asked why he was so emotional at the win, MacIntyre gestured to his dad as he told CBS: “Because of this.

“I’m speechless to be honest. This is just everything for me and family, my girlfriend, my team. I can’t believe I’ve done it with him on the bag.

“I’m crying with joy but I’m laughing because I didn’t think it was possible.”

MacIntyre had seen his four-shot overnight lead wiped out in the space of four holes after he bogeyed the first and home favourite Mackenzie Hughes made a hat-trick of early birdies.

However, MacIntyre responded superbly to birdie the fourth, seventh and eighth to regain control of the tournament, despite having to ask for a drone being used for the television coverage to be moved on several occasions before he finally got his wish.

Another birdie on the 11th was followed by a wild tee shot on the 12th into a water hazard and another bogey on the 13th opened the door for the chasing pack, but the Ryder Cup star crucially birdied the 15th and safely parred the last three holes.

MacIntyre has made no secret of his struggle to adapt to living in the United States this season, but benefited hugely from a three-week spell back in Scotland in April and contended for the Myrtle Beach Classic before finishing eighth in the US PGA Championship.