Rory McIlroy shows true colours after losing out to Robert MacIntyre at Canadian Open
Robert MacIntyre secured his first PGA Tour title at the RBC Canadian Open, while Rory McIlroy had to settle for tied-fourth.
Rory McIlroy was full of praise for his Ryder Cup team-mate Robert MacIntyre, who got the better of him by three strokes to clinch the RBC Canadian Open on Sunday.
MacIntyre's triumph marked his inaugural victory on the PGA Tour, ultimately securing the title by a single stroke ahead of second-placed Ben Griffin. McIlroy, despite an impressive six-under-par 64 in the final round, fell three shots short, leaving the two-time champion in a tie for fourth.
McIlroy had a mountain to climb going into the final round, commencing the day seven strokes adrift of MacIntyre. However, he quickly made his presence felt with a strong start on the fourth day.
The four-time major winner notched up four birdies in six holes to put himself in contention, after 54-hole leader MacIntyre stumbled with a bogey on his first hole. Despite this promising start, McIlroy's momentum waned, adding only two more birdies to his score over the subsequent 12 holes, falling short of his Ryder Cup colleague.
Meanwhile, MacIntyre kept his cool, posting a two-under 68 to finally secure his long-awaited PGA Tour win. The star from Oban recently relocated to the United States after earning full playing status on the PGA Tour due to his performance in the 2023 Race to Dubai.
Life across the pond has been a challenge for the Scottish golfer, who initially struggled to hit his stride on the PGA Tour. Last month, he candidly shared his feelings of loneliness while competing in America, far from his friends and family back home.
This week, however, MacIntyre had a touch of home with him as his father, Dougie, stepped in as his caddie, leading to a heartfelt triumph. And McIlroy was quick to commend his European counterpart.
"I mean, Bob and I, we're separated by a body of water in the Irish Sea, but we're actually not that far away from each other where we grew up in Oban and Belfast," McIlroy remarked.
"I can absolutely understand. It's a big culture shock compared to the place where he grew up in Oban. You know, traveling around America, it's a different world. Some people adapt a little quicker than others. Everyone has to try to find their right rhythm."
In anticipation of MacIntyre's defining moment, McIlroy expressed: "It looks like Bob's still figuring that out. It would be great to see him hang on and get that first PGA Tour win."
For MacIntyre, clinching the victory was made even more memorable with his father by his side.
"Goose bumps," MacIntyre said of his win. "It's incredible. It's a dream of mine to play golf for a living. It's been a dream of mine to win on the PGA Tour, when I got my PGA Tour card, and I just can't believe I done it with my dad on the bag. The guy's taught me the way I play golf."
