Rory McIlroy secured a 2-under 68 in challenging winds on Sunday to claim victory at the Genesis Scottish Open, his first triumph on Scottish soil. The final two holes proved crucial for McIlroy as he birdied both, showcasing his skill and gaining a significant boost of confidence ahead of the year’s final major.
Trailing Robert MacIntyre by one shot, McIlroy executed a precise shot on the par-3 17th, placing his ball close to the pin for a 4-foot birdie putt, leveling the score. Then, in what he deemed his best shot of the year, McIlroy confidently struck a 2-iron into the wind, landing the ball 10 feet away for another birdie.
The outcome was heartbreaking for MacIntyre, who set his sights on winning his national open. Despite the disappointment, MacIntyre delivered an impressive performance of his own. He hammered a 3-wood from the rough on the 18th hole, celebrating with both fists raised when his ball dropped for a remarkable 64.
Considering the challenging wind conditions along the Firth of Forth, the closing round was exceptional. MacIntyre appeared destined for a career-defining victory until McIlroy’s late surge.
McIlroy turned the tables and emerged as the victor, showcasing his prowess on the challenging back nine with a remarkable score of 31. His clutch performance included two crucial birdies, securing his first victory since the Dubai Desert Classic.
This triumph couldn’t have come at a better moment for McIlroy. With his sights set on the Open Championship, McIlroy now heads to Royal Liverpool intending to end his nine-year major drought. McIlroy’s previous victory in the prestigious tournament occurred in 2014, when The Open was last held at Royal Liverpool, making his return to the course even more significant.
McIlroy proud of his performance at the Scottish Open
“That was such a tough day — so tough,” McIlroy said. “To play that back nine in 4-under par to win the tournament, I’m really proud of how I stuck in there. I hit some amazing shots down the stretch. It feels incredible. It’s been a long six months, I feel, since I won in Dubai. I’ve given myself tons of chances, and hopefully this win sort of breaks the seal for me, especially going into next week.”
To play that back nine in 4-under par to win the tournament, I’m really proud of how I stuck in there.
McIlroy
McIlroy concluded the Scottish Open with a strong finish, posting a score of 15-under 265 and surpassing Jon Rahm to claim the No. 2 spot in the world rankings.
Scottie Scheffler, currently the top-ranked player globally, ended the event with a 70 and tied for third place alongside Byeong Hun An (70) and David Lingmerth (68). Scheffler has consistently achieved top-five finishes in his past seven tournaments, including two majors.
An and Lingmerth received a consolation prize by securing spots in The Open, which are granted to the three highest-placed players not already exempt. The final spot was earned by Nicolai Hojgaard (67), who will join his twin brother Rasmus at Royal Liverpool.
Throughout the week at The Renaissance Club, the Scottish crowd passionately cheered for MacIntyre, chanting his name. Their enthusiasm peaked when he executed a remarkable 3-wood shot and sank a birdie putt on the challenging 18th hole, known as one of the toughest closing holes on the tour.
MacIntyre couldn’t hold back his tears
The overwhelming emotions of the moment brought tears to MacIntyre’s eyes as he made his way off the green.
“I’ll never forget it. I had to take a minute coming off 18,” he said. “If not The Open, the Scottish Open will be up there with the event I want to play for the rest of my life. It’s one I’ve dreamed of winning since I watched at home, and I thought today coming down once I birdied 18, I thought, this might be the one. But it’s not to be just now.
“Rory McIlroy’s potentially the best in the world, and he showed why today.”
McIlroy responded with an equally impressive shot. Facing a challenging situation of being 201 yards away from the pin with a strong headwind, a shot that typically calls for a 3-iron, McIlroy opted to use his 2-iron instead, a club he had chosen specifically for the windy conditions throughout the tournament.
“The 4-iron was only getting me to the front edge,” McIlroy said. He needed to hit a 2-iron with a little cut and a little height to let the wind take off some of the distance, and “it came off absolutely perfectly.”
“It’s probably the best shot I’ve hit all year,” McIlroy said. “When you hit a shot like that, I feel like I deserved to hole the putt to finish it off like that.”
The European Tour and the PGA Tour jointly sanctioned the tournament. With his victory, McIlroy extended his lead in the Race to Dubai standings, but he will need to make up ground to catch Rahm and Scheffler in the FedEx Cup rankings.
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