Rory McIlroy produced a fine birdie finish to win the Scottish Open by one shot.
The world No. 2 now entered the final round with a one-shot lead but on a dramatic day in high winds at the Renaissance Club it was home champ Robert McIntyre who threatened a fantasy win.
The Scotsman played a stunning last-card 64 and lead by one at 14 under, but McIlroy put his tee to five feet in the third 17 for a birdie and move into the lead. The 34-year-old then produced some closing magic of his own, putting his approach to 11 feet and calmly smashing his putt to sign for a 68 and an impressive one-stroke win.
McIlroy’s first win on Scottish soil now goes hand in hand with January’s Dubai Desert Classic title in his Rolex Series collection, and takes his tally of DP World Tour wins to 16. He also became the first player to win the Scottish Open and the Irish Open A week before he went in search of a major fifth at Royal Liverpool, where he raised the Claret Jug for the first time in 2014.
“It’s right up there with my best performances,” McElroy said, “especially after he missed the short birdie putt on 16. I thought if I could birdie one of the last two and get into a playoff, it would be a bonus. So, to finish two or three in those circumstances.” , the two iron putts I hit, the 5-iron on the 17th and the 2-iron to the last are probably two of the best shots I’ve hit all year, and then I finish them off with the two strikes as well.It feels pretty cool.I’ve had some close calls lately, so To cross the line and have a little bit of confidence next week and the rest of the season is huge.”
Scotty Scheffler, Byung Hun An and David Langmirth finished tied for third at 10, with Wellingmirth and Dane Nikolai Hoggard – who finished another shot back – all earning points on the field at next week’s Open. Lingmerth closed out with 66 and Scheffler and An both made 70s to finish a shot ahead of Tyrrell Hatton, Højgaard, Tommy Fleetwood, Tom Kim and JT Poston.