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Scottish Open: Home hero Robert MacIntyre secures one-shot win – BBC Sport

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Scottish Open: Home hero Robert MacIntyre secures one-shot win – BBC Sport

Image caption, Robert MacIntyre finished on 18 under for a thrilling one-shot win

  • Author, Martin Watt
  • Role, BBC Sport Scotland at The Renaissance Club

Scottish Open final leaderboard

-18 R MacIntyre (Sco); -17 A Scott (Aus); -15 R Langasque (Fra); -14 L Aberg (Swe); R McIlroy (NI), C Morikawa (US), A Rai (Eng), S Im (Kor), S Theegala (US); -13 C Conners (Can), V Perez (Fra), A Noren (Swe), W Clark (US), R Mansell (Eng)

Selected others: -12 C Syme (Sco); -11 B Harman (US); -9 T Fleetwood (Eng); -8 M Fitzpatrick (Eng)

Robert MacIntyre made up for last year’s Scottish Open heartbreak as he snatched a stunning victory on home soil amid rapturous scenes.

The Scot, runner-up 12 months ago after Rory McIlroy’s brilliant birdie-birdie finish, drained a 22-foot birdie putt on the last to reach 18 under and edge out Adam Scott by a shot.

It completed a late surge to glory by MacIntyre, who gained four strokes in his closing five holes in a three-under 67 to secure the title he craved.

The left-hander capitalised on a huge slice of fortune on the par-five 16th when he drove into thick rough and his ball landed next to a sprinkler head, allowing him a free drop to a more favourable lie where he got down in two from almost 250 yards to make eagle.

Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg, who had led from the halfway stage, struggled to a three-over 73 as Australia’s Scott – chasing his first title in four years – set the target with a 67.

But MacIntyre was not to be denied again as he added his second PGA Tour title after last month’s Canadian Open success.

That landmark success was special for the 27-year-old but it paled in comparison to the elation of victory in front of a large and passionate home crowd, who belted out ‘Flower of Scotland’ after the winning putt dropped as MacIntyre revelled in the celebrations.

Frenchman Romain Langasque finished third on 15 under, with McIlroy and Aberg a further shot back.

MacIntyre’s victory is his third on the DP World Tour, with the Scottish Open a co-sanctioned event.

He has another home engagement next – The Open at Royal Troon starting on Thursday – but is “going to celebrate this one hard”.

“It’s incredible,” he said. “Next week is a new week but I tell you, I’m going to celebrate this with my family, friends, and everyone here.

“We’ll pitch up to The Open when we pitch up to The Open.”

MacIntyre, who began the final round two shots back, was one over for the day through 13 before reigniting his challenge with a 40-foot birdie putt on the next.

Then came the stroke of fortune on 16, with MacIntyre saying post-round “you need a bit of luck to win golf tournaments”.

He added: “I couldn’t believe when I heard a spring under my foot where my spike is at and I’m like ‘no way’. It was covered. I got lucky, it was meant to be.”

That eagle lifted him level with Scott, who had recovered emphatically from a double bogey on eight, before MacIntyre produced the title-winning birdie he required at the last.

Earlier, England’s Richard Mansell equalled the course record with a 61 to finish 13 under and secure a place in The Open.

He will be joined at Royal Troon by compatriot Aaron Rai, who shared fourth place on 14 under, with Sweden’s Alex Noren taking the other available spot.

Mansell made bogey on the second but bounced back in incredible style with 10 birdies, six of them on the back nine, to card a 61 that reinforced his belief “this game is just insane”.

“Believe it or not I’ve been struggling with my game recently,” said the world number 221.

“You’re never as far away as you think you are. And I’m hoping that that can kind of kick start my season now.”

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