(Hamilton) Accompanied by his father, Dougie, as caddy, Robert MacIntyre won the RBC Canadian Open by one stroke over Ben Griffin on Sunday, signing his first career PGA victory.
He was competing for his 45e tournament.
“I have chills. It’s incredible, said MacIntyre, who is 27 years old. I’m making a dream come true and I can’t believe I did it with my dad by my side. He was the one who taught me golf. »
Starting the round with a four-shot lead, the Scot played 68 to finish at 264 (-16).
MacIntyre collected five birdies, as did Griffin, his playing companion. The American signed a card of 65 in his last three rounds.
PHOTO NATHAN DENETTE, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Robert MacIntyre celebrates his victory with his father.
MacIntyre helped Europe win the Ryder Cup in 2023. He has two victories on the European Tour, in 2020 and 2022.
Frenchman Victor Perez finished third, the result of a second 64 in a row.
Rory McIlroy delivered his best score of the tournament, a 64, which allowed him to move up to fourth place. He avoided bogeys while accumulating six birdies.
The Northern Irishman won the Canadian Open in 2019, in Hamilton, as well as in 2022, in Toronto.
Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., was the top Canadian with a sixth place finish. Conners shined with seven birdies, including four in a row, shooting 65 for a cumulative score of -12.
Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ontario, finished seventh, after having high hopes. He finished the tournament with a 70, his worst score of the week, slipping six shots from the top (-10).
He began the day deadlocked in second place, four shots behind MacIntyre.
Hughes had three birdies in his first four holes, then MacIntyre bogeyed the first hole. The Ontarian, however, was the victim of three bogeys in his last 10 holes.
It’s demoralizing. I really wanted to win the tournament. It’s going to hurt for quite a while.
Mackenzie Hughes
Last year, British Columbian Nick Taylor triumphed in overtime, becoming the first Canadian to win the tournament in 69 years.
“I felt like I was going to run out of holes to try to create something,” Hughes said. In golf, it’s not a good sign when you have to try to force things. »
Small consolation for Hughes: his result will allow him to participate in the British Open, in Scotland, next month.
Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., finished 21e after handing in a final card of 69 for a total of 273 (-7), which should earn him 30e place in the world rankings, the highest level for a Canadian golfer.
Check the final ranking