There really is something to the power of family. For Robert MacIntyre, life on the PGA Tour was far from the glitz and glamour that the rest of golf fans worldwide envision it to be. Struggling to adapt to American life after growing up in the small town of Oban, Scotland, the 27-year-old was one of 10 graduates from the DP World Tour who received full status in the United States. However, in what seemed like a no-brainer move on paper, this would come with an added price as the current world number 39 would begin to miss his home and his friends. As a result, following a search for a permanent caddie over the last two years, a missed cut at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Texas would lead MacIntyre to call his father Dougie on Saturday night.
A local greenskeeper at Glencruitten Golf Club, in the southwest corner of Caledonia, at 8 am the next day, he was on a flight out. Seven days later, a very emotional Dougie would struggle to find the words while standing on the 18th green, his son having just won the RBC Canadian Open for the first PGA Tour victory of his career. “Unbelievable. I’m a grass-cutter,” “Not a caddie. Not a caddie. Honestly, it’s unbelievable.”
Now given full-time status on Tour for the next 2.5 years while being elevated into every signature event for the rest of the season, Macintyre also earns an invite for the U.S. Open at Pinehurst in ten days and the Masters tournament next April. However, the best gift of all might be the $1.692 million payout to the winner and a chance to fly home with his girlfriend and throw a party to celebrate. Bravo, Dougie and Robert. There really is something to the power of family.
5. Sluggish Friday Haults Rory Mcilroy
Heading into Sunday seven shots off the pace, Mcilroy opened the tournament with a 66 on Thursday, followed by a disappointing 72 on Friday afternoon. Beginning Sunday, seven shots off the pace, he jumped out to a blazing start. Mcilroy birdied four of his first six holes, including the par-five fourth, to get to 11 under at the turn. Ultimately closing with a final round 64, the reigning Wells Fargo champion would finish in a tie for fourth to record his fourth top ten of the season. In four Canadian Open appearances, the two-time PGA Champion has finished 1-1-T9-T4. Set to enter one of the busiest two-week stretches on the Tour schedule, Mcilory will look to win The Memorial Tournament next weekend before heading to North Carolina for the U.S. Open.
4. Mackenzie Hughes Hometown Party Spoiled
A native of nearby Dundas, Ontario, Hughes had the opportunity to live out his childhood dream and win the RBC Canadian Open at his home course at Hamilton Golf & Country Club. Beginning the final round in a tie for second, four shots back, Hughes had birdies on three of his first four holes. After MacIntyre bogeyed No. 1, the Canadian found himself at the top of the leaderboard. However, the 33-year-old would struggle coming in. He dropped shots on three of the final ten holes, leading to a disappointing round of even par 70 and a T7 finish. However, there was a silver lining for the Kent State product, as his performance earned him a spot in the upcoming Open Championship in July.
3. Tom Kim in a Groove Heading to Murfield Village
Coming off a disappointing T26 finish at the PGA Championship and a T47 at the Wells Fargo, Kim appears to have finally found his game. Playing alongside McIlroy on Sunday, the 21-year-old carded a final round 64 to finish T4 for his first top ten of the season. Struggling with his driver, the South Korean native hit only four fairways. However, he was bailed out by an excellent approach game and a hot putter that saw him make birdies from 21 feet, 30 feet, and nine feet. Now up to 66th in the race for the FedEx Cup, the three-time PGA Tour winner will need to put together a solid second half in order to get into the playoffs while also securing a spot on the International Team in the Presidents Cup.
2. Corey Conners Secures Rivermead Cup
While it is not the ultimate prize that Conners began the week searching for, the Listowel Ontario native was within one shot of the lead on Sunday afternoon. Following a final round 65, the 32-year-old finished in sole possession of sixth place, four back of Macintyre. His bid to join Albert Murray (1913) and Karl Keffer (1914) as the only Canadians to win the National Open in back-to-back years came up short. Nonetheless, as a result of his efforts, Conners leapfrogged his fellow countrymen in Hughes to secure the Riversmead Cup as the top Canadian at the Canadian Open. The two-time PGA Tour winner also captured the trophy in 2022 at St. Georges Golf & Country Club.
1. Marvelous Macintyre Outshines Them All
The feel-good father-son story on the PGA Tour with Father's Day looming around the corner for Macintyre, the moment of the day came on the 18th. After seeing his three-shot lead on the back nine widdle away, the Scotland native needed to par the hole in order to hold off the surging Ben Griffin. He stuffed his approach shot to 10 feet before two-putting for a Sunday 68. A breakthrough victory in his 45th PGA Tour start, the Mcnese State product had twice won on the DP World Tour at the 2020 Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Showdown and 2022 Italian Open. Furthermore, he was also a member of Europe's winning Ryder Cup team a year ago.
(Photo by Jorge Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images)