(Gullane, Scotland) Rory McIlroy shrugged off biting winds to birdie his final two holes on Sunday and took the Scottish Golf Open honors with a stroke over Robert MacIntyre.
McIlroy first brilliantly used the drop at 17e hole, a par 3, to eventually wedge a putt from a distance of four feet for the first of his two birdies.
Then, in what he said was his best shot of the year, McIlroy placed his ball 10 feet from the target at the 18e hole with his 2 iron, despite a headwind, for his final birdie.
These two birdies allowed him to bring back a card of 68, two strokes under par. He completed the four rounds with a cumulative score of 265, 15 under par.
The win moved McIlroy past Jon Rahm to second in the world rankings.
For MacIntyre, who was hoping to win on home soil, it was a heartbreaking second place, especially since he himself had pulled off a sensational shot at 18e hole.
In the tall grass of the Renaissance Club, thanks to a brilliant wood shot 3, he managed to lodge his ball four feet from the goal. He then shook his two fists with happiness after hitting the putt that allowed him to conclude his round with a score of 64, six under par, and a cumulative record of 266.
World number one American Scottie Scheffler shot 70 on Sunday and finished third, tied with Byeong Hun An (70) and David Lingmerth (68), five shots behind the winner.
Canadians Corey Conners (66) and Nick Taylor (71) completed the tournament with cumulative scores of 264, six under par.