JOLLAN, Scotland — Rory McIlroy smashed the final two holes in the strong wind on Sunday to make a 2-under 68 to win the Genesis Scottish Open, his first win on Scottish soil, and reign supreme in the final of the year.
McIlroy was one shot behind Robert McIntyre when he played the ramp to near perfection on the par-3 17th for a 4-foot birdie putt to tie the lead. Then he threw what McIlroy called his best shot of the year – an iron 2 into the wind to 10 feet for one last birdie.
It was heartbreaking for McIntyre, who was trying to win his home championship, and he delivered a class shot of his own. MacIntyre pumped the 3-putt from the 18th hole at The Renaissance Club to a 4-foot par, pumping his fists as he dropped to 64.
It was a remarkable closing tour given the winds were rough and ruthless from the Firth of Forth and looked for as long as it would hand McIntyre, 26, the defining victory of his young career.
Instead it was McElroy, who played ninth at fullback in the 31 and capped off two clutches for his first win since the Dubai Desert Classic.
The victory came at the perfect time. McIlroy heads south to Royal Liverpool for the Open Championship, as he attempts to end his nine-year drought at the major tournaments. McIlroy won the claret jug last time The Open was played at Royal Liverpool in 2014.
“It was a difficult day – very difficult,” McIlroy said. “To play this full-back nine at 4 under par to win the tournament, I am really proud of the way I stayed. Since I won in Dubai. I gave myself a lot of chances, and I hope this win breaks the seal for me, especially next week.”
McIlroy finished at 15-under 265 and passed John Rahm to No. 2 in the world.
Scotty Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 player, finished with a score of 70, tied for third with Byung Hun An (70) and David Lingmirth (68). Scheffler has finished among the top five in his past seven tournaments, two of them grand slams.
An and Lingmerth secured a consolation prize by winning places in The Open, which were awarded to the three leading players not already exempt. Last place goes to Nicolai Hoggard (67), who will join twin brother Rasmus at Royal Liverpool.
The Scottish crowd had been chanting MacIntyre’s name all week around the Renaissance Club, and they cheered when he delivered a 3 woods and birdie on the 18th, one of the toughest holes on the tour.
McIntyre was so caught up in the moment that he had to hold back his tears leaving the green.
He said, “I’ll never forget it. I had to take one minute out of 18.” “If it wasn’t for the Open Championship, the Scottish Open would be up there with the event I want to play for the rest of my life. It’s an event I’ve been dreaming of winning since I watched it at home, and today I thought of going down as soon as I played. I thought it might be the 18th, but this It wouldn’t be just now.
“Rory McIlroy is probably the best in the world, and he showed why today.”
McIlroy matched it with a fine shot.
He was 201 yards from the pin, dead in the wind, his perfect 3-iron—except McIlroy decided to trade his 3-iron for a 2-iron for the windy week.
“The four-iron was only leading me to the leading edge,” said McIlroy. He needed to hit a 2-iron with a slight cut and a little elevation to allow the wind to go some distance, and it “came out absolutely perfect”.
“It’s probably the best shot I’ve hit all year,” said McIlroy. “When you hit a shot like that, I feel like I deserve to put holes in my putt to finish it that way.”
The tournament is jointly sanctioned by the European Tour and the PGA Tour. McIlroy has extended his lead at the top of the race to Dubai, although he still has some work to do to catch Bram and Scheffler in the FedEx Cup.