Magical MacIntyre Enters Automatic Ryder Cup Qualification Spots

Robert MacIntyre jumped into the final automatic qualification spot on the European Points List after a solo second finish at the Genesis Scottish Open, the third Rolex Series event of 2023 on the DP World Tour.

The Scot finished runner up behind Rory McIlroy at The Renaissance Club to move up nine spots and displace fellow Ryder Cup rookie hopeful Yannik Paul in the third and final qualification spot on the European Points list with 1,732.77 points.

On a blustery final day, MacIntyre turned on the style and when he tapped in for eagle at the par 5 10^th hole, followed by back-to-back birdies on 14 and 15, it looked as if the home favourite was heading for a fairytale victory.

A bogey at 16 briefly halted momentum but after a wayward drive on 18, MacIntyre produced one of the shots of the season as his approach with a fairway wood from 212 yards finished up within four feet.

And when he duly tapped in for birdie to sign for a closing 64, six-under-par, the clubhouse lead was set at 14-under-par, however McIlroy finished with back-to-back birdies - producing a sensational approach of his own into the closing hole - to claim his second consecutive Rolex Series title and first professional win in Scotland.

That victory extended McIlroy’s lead at the top of the European Points list ahead of the final Major of the season, the Open Championship, this week, but MacIntyre boost his chances of joining him in Luke Donald’s 12-man team for Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in September - the venue where he won the DS Automobiles Italian Open in 2022.

MacIntyre said: “I'm really proud of myself, me and Greg and the whole team behind me. I've put in a hell of a lot of work the last five, six weeks. I’ve felt great in my golf and I’ve felt great in myself in the last wee while.

“I'll never forget it (the atmosphere). I had to take a minute coming off 18. I mean, that's why I play this sport. That's why I'm in the Scottish Open, and 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.

“Last week, I felt like I had two hands on the trophy and I let it go. This week, I was nowhere near it. I wasn't even within touching distance of the trophy and went out there and put in a performance.

“Rory McIlroy's potentially the best in the world, and he showed why today. I take my hat off to him.”

It was McIlroy who broke Scottish golf fans’ hearts as he produced two simply incredible birdies at his final two holes to win the event by one stroke in North Berwick.

After missing a birdie chance to tie the lead on 16, McIlroy didn’t let his head drop as he hit his tee shot at the 190 yard 17^th hole to inside five feet.

Then came one of the shots of the year from McIlroy at the closing hole. With 201 yards to go, with the ball in a shallow divot, McIlroy hit a sublime two-iron to 11 feet.

And when the six-time Ryder Cup player holed the birdie putt he became the first golfer to win the Scottish Open, Irish Open and Open Championship.

His second Rolex Series title of the season and 16^th victory on the DP World Tour saw McIlroy leapfrog Jon Rahm to claim the top spot on the European Points List with 3,838.50 points.

"It's amazing," McIlroy said. "For the Race to Dubai, for the FedEx Cup, for my confidence in general, but for all those things that I talked about at the start of the week and trying to win the title on both sides of the Atlantic again this year, this will go a long way.

"This is right up there with the best of (my performances), especially after missing the short birdie putt on 16. I thought if I can birdie one of the last two and get into a play-off, that would be a bonus.

"To finish two-three in these conditions, the two iron shots that I hit, the five iron into 17 and the two iron into the last are probably two of the best shots I've hit all year, and then to finish them off with the putts as well.

"It feels absolutely amazing. I've had a few close calls recently so to get over the line and get this bit of confidence going into next week and the rest of the season is huge."

As it stands McIlroy (3,838.50 points), Jon Rahm (3,017.98 points) and MacIntyre (1,732.77 points) sit in the three automatic qualifying spots on the European Points List, with Viktor Hovland (255.98 points), Tyrrell Hatton (189.01 points) and Matt Fitzpatrick (149.78 points) in the top three positions on the World Points List.

The 2023 Ryder Cup will take place between September 25 – October 1 at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, Rome, Italy.

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