HAMILTON, Ontario — Robert MacIntyre, with father Dougie as his caddy, won his first PGA Tour title Sunday at the RBC Canadian Open.
Four strokes ahead entering the final round at Hamilton Golf and Country Club, MacIntyre shot a 68 to beat Ben Griffin by a stroke. On the par-4 18th, the 27-year-old Scottish left-hander holed 12 feet for par, 1½ feet out.
“Goose bumps. It’s unbelievable,” MacIntyre said. “My dream is to play golf for a living. My dream is to win on the PGA Tour. … I can’t believe I did it with my dad on the bag. The guy taught me. The way I play golf.”
During a televised interview with CBS Sports, an emotional Dougie McIntyre said it was “unbelievable” to be a part of his son’s success. “I’m a lawnmower … it’s unbelievable.”
MacIntyre finished at 16-under 264 for the breakthrough victory in his 45th career PGA Tour start. The former McNeese State player was a member of Europe’s 2023 Ryder Cup winning team and has two European Tour victories, the 2020 Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Showdown and the 2022 Italian Open.
“I was in a dogfight there,” MacIntyre said. “Obviously, Ben made it tough down the stretch. He played well. It’s unbelievable to have my dad on the bag and my girlfriend here, and I’m sure there’s a house party going on at the Open.”
Griffin was 65 years old. He tied the 18th after birdies on the previous three holes.
“I fought hard,” Griffin said. “I felt like I had a lid on the cup most of the day. I hit a lot of good putts, I wouldn’t say streaky putts, but pretty good putts and kept burning the edges. A couple of bad putts, but I was patient.”
France’s Victor Perez was third at 14 under after his second 64.
Two-time Canadian Open champion Rory McIlroy shot 64 to tie for fourth with Tom Kim (64) at 13 under. McIlroy last won in Hamilton in 2019 and St. George in Toronto in 2022.
“Three good rounds of golf, one not so good,” McIlroy said. “I felt a little out on Friday. Had a good range session and fixed that.”
Corey Connors shot 65 to finish at 12 under.
“Definitely something to be proud of,” Conners said. “Yes, obviously it’s disappointing not to win a major trophy, but, yes, it’s a great honour.
Fellow Canadian Mackenzie Hughes, entering the day second, was one shot back after a 70.
Last year at Oakdale in Toronto, Nick Taylor became the first Canadian to win the event since 1954 when he made a 72-foot eagle putt on the fourth hole of a playoff against Tommy Fleetwood.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
