The Genesis Scottish Open, more than any other tournament, was the one that Robert MacIntyre wanted.
So, when MacIntyre rolled in his 22-foot birdie putt on the final hole Sunday at the Renaissance Club to become the first Scot to capture this national open in a quarter century, the modest 27-year-old from Oban dropped his putter, delivered a violent, uppercut fist pump, and roared into the gray sky.
“I’ve lost my voice from the scream that I let out,” said MacIntyre, who last year suffered a narrow defeat here to Rory McIlroy. “I mean, last year was heartbreaking, but this year, yeah, it means everything. This is one that I said I wanted at some point in my career, and I got it today.”
MacIntyre’s voice might not get a break any time soon, either. The party, he said, had already begun and wouldn’t be stopping for a while, even with the Open Championship at Royal Troon on deck.
“How I come down from this, I don’t think I will,” said MacIntyre, who missed the PGA Tour’s Memorial Tournament, a signature event, in order to fly home and celebrate his first Tour title the week prior in Canada. “I think I will just try and ride the wave, and next week, yeah, it’s Open Championship. That means, again, a lot to me. But you’ve got to celebrate the good times because it doesn’t happen a lot.”
No chance MacIntyre shows up for a Monday press conference at Royal Troon.
A Tuesday practice round? Questionable.
Wednesday? You’d think, but...
“I think there might be a change of schedule,” MacIntyre added. “I don’t think I’ll be in a fit state to get to Troon. I don’t think I’ll be legally able to drive. ... This, I’m going to celebrate hard, and I’ll pitch up when I tee the ball on Thursday, whatever time I tee off, I’ll try to win the championship. There might be some alcohol still in the system, but I will try my best.”