Ryder Cup star and home favorite Robert MacIntyre got his hands on more silverware after last weekend’s team contest by easing to a four-shot victory at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
The 29-year-old Scotsman, who was part of the European team that retained the Ryder Cup in New York, found himself with a narrow one-shot advantage following the first two rounds of the event which was reduced to just three rounds as a result of strong windy weather conditions from Storm Amy.
The third round, which took place at the St Andrews’ Old Course, saw the World No. 9 pull away from the rest of the competition. He shot out of the blocks with a birdie at the first and didn’t look back, recording six birdies in what was a bogey-free opening 13 holes. His one and only bogey came at the 17th but his lead was not under any severe pressure as he carded a third-round 66 to end on 18 under and collect his fourth career DP World Tour title.
The win means he becomes the first scotsman to win the event since Colin Montgomerie in 2005.
“Unbelievable, any time you can win a golf tournament on these shores is unbelievable,” he said.
“The biggest thing is being able to manoeuvre the golf ball,” he explained of the conditions. “It’s about controlling the golf ball to land softly round the pins.
“It’s brilliant. I don’t know how we’re going to celebrate after the celebration we had last Sunday,” MacIntyre added. “It’s a beautiful ending to a good week.”
MacIntyre finished ahead of Ryder Cup teammate and defending champion Tyrrell Hatton after his final-round 65.
There was a tie for third between South Africa’s Richard Stone and England John Perry while the Ryder Cup’s top points scorer Tommy Fleetwood had to settle with a T21 finish on 9 under.
What is the next event?
The next event on the DP World Tour schedule is the Open de España presented by Madrid taking place between 9-12 October at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid in Spain.