Scotland’s golf hero Robert MacIntyre connects the champion king to the crown at St Andrews’ iconic 18th green green Alfred Dunhill after winning the 66th.
Oban’s Pride MacIntyre won his fourth DP World Tour, winning the second game in Scotland for the second time, from Europe’s victory in the grand Ryder Cup, a huge Ryder Cup victory for Bethpage Black.
He said: “It’s awesome, a special win, and as a Scots I have no other place to win more than St Andrews. I won the Scottish Open last year and now I’ve got a link to Dunhill here, and the Reed Cup.
“The only thing that matters is that if I could win the open title at St Andrews, so we’ll try to celebrate tonight. Not sure how we did this after the celebrations we had last Sunday in New York, but it would be nice, but it would be nice, especially as the family traveled to see me today.”
Favorite one from home
MacIntyre cheered him on every step around the old court, and MacIntyre played at 66 under par, his third game cut it by 54 holes as the ongoing storm caused the third round scheduled on Saturday to be cancelled.
MacIntyre, the first winner of the Dunhill link since Colin Montgomerie in 2005 and the fourth Scotchman, can experience the thrill of the Golf House Aerial Championship trophy. Stephen Gallacher won in 2004 and Paul Lawrie won the inauguration in 2001.
The most popular Bob is now the second Scotsman to win the Alfred Dunhill Links title and the Scottish Open after Montgomerie. Montgomerie won the Scottish Open in 1999.
“My name is really special when I’m going to bring some great names on golf, and as a kid, I used to see events like Dunhill, dreaming of being able to play in it.
“And I love coming to St Andrews. I’ve been here with my family for years, sometimes just walking on the beach, not in town, not playing golf. But the whole place is a golf paradise and I’ll always play here whenever there’s a game.”
Running on the smoke
MacIntyre joked about becoming the Dunhill Links champion after returning to Scotland and had little expectations after the hype and pressure of the Ryder Cup.
“Honestly, I don’t know how I did this week. I’ve done everything with the book. I’ve come here just to enjoy it and try to perform well, but I’ve only pitched Wednesday, hit only 11 holes around the old class, and did everything I wouldn’t do in a normal week this week.
“It’s not just not really preparation, although obviously I know all three courses well. My diet wasn’t good this week – I’ve had a lot of fish, chips and other takeaways. I didn’t do any gyms either.”
MacIntyre picked the second of his three 66 seasons, the key to his victory, on a tour in Kingsbarns to defy heavy rain and strong winds, just paused the game after he finished the game.
“Of course, all three rounds are important, but Kings Barnes is easy to get rid of my rounds,” he added. “I was even shocked with a 66 of 66. It’s incredible. I know the level I can play, but sometimes I do shock myself, but going out to do it this week, crossing the line this week, which is very special.”
Main focus
As for the future, next April in August, the Master is now the focus of McIntyre. “Now what I want is a major champion, it’s no secret,” World 9 said.
MacIntyre won four shots from his Ryder Cup hero Tyrrell Hatton, who hit 14 and 14 shots with a 65-under-par shot in St Andrews.
Another British man, John Parry, went further with South Africa’s Richard Sterne, to hit 13 under par, while two other members of the European-win Ryder Cup team will compete this week – Matt Fitzpatrick and Tommy Fleetwood – both ended with a 9-shot victory.
The Alfred Dunhill Link Championship is a celebration of Links Golf, performed on the old courses St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, among the three greatest link classes in the world.
Alfred Dunhill’s prize combines two independent matches with a $5 million prize – the world’s leading golfers’ individual professional championships and team champions, professionals paired with amateur golfers, creating a unique atmosphere.
celebrity
Among celebrity amateurs are Michael Douglas, Katherine Zeta Jones, Bill Murray, Matthew Good, Ronan Keating, Ronan Keating, Tom Chaplin, Dave Farrell, Mike Rootford, Huey Lewis, Pierce Morgan Nicholas, Michael Vaughan, Schalk Burger JNR, Morné Du Plessis and Rob Louw.
This is Alfred Dunhill’s 40th year in St Andrews’ support for golf, first in the Alfred Dunhill Cup since 1985 and then in the 2001 Alfred Dunhill Link Championship.
In June 2011, the Alfred Dunhill Links Foundation was established as the official foundation for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. The foundation is committed to developing young amateur golfers in Scotland and South Africa, and supports the University of St Andrews and the St Andrews Pilgrim Foundation, which has undergone renovations and preserved historical monuments in the town.
Perform on-site ratings Click here to get the professionals and team up here.
