If there’s a more emotional scene on the PGA Tour this year than Robert MacIntyre hugging his father – and emergency caddy – after winning his debut title on the US circuit, then we should all prepare for the ultimate tearjerker. Because this was rich with emotions.
All day it was as if Dougie was caddying with a straight face for his son in the Oban junior championship. But no, this was MacIntyre Jr. who realized his lifelong dream and when father and boy embraced, the ear tubes burst. With good reason.
MacIntyre had seen off American Ben Griffin with a shot – with Rory McIlroy lurking – to win the Canadian Open and this was clearly a celebration of heart and bloodline rather than fist pump and percentage.
There was plenty to enjoy on a hectic Sunday at Hamilton Country Club, where the 27-year-old ventured into a four-shot lead and saw chasers like an inspired McIlroy – with a final round 64 – close within reach, before the southpaw dug deep and drove away again.
Things definitely got nervy at the end, when his playing partner Griffin buried three in a row to get within a shot with one to play. At that point. McIlroy settled down to finish fourth, while Frenchman Victor Perez finished third.
MacIntyre was rock solid on the 18th, hitting the fairway and then taking it to 12 feet and after Griffin missed his 20 footer to make things interesting, MacIntyre enjoyed the most comfortable deceleration of his life.
His breakthrough win comes with so many benefits, starting with entry into next week’s $20 million (£15.6 million) Memorial tournament and then, the week after, a place at the US Open at Pinehurst. He has also secured a place in next year’s Masters and secured his card on the US circuit for the next two years.
Just as importantly, this triumph gives substance to the belief he and his many admirers have long held: that last year’s Ryder Cup victory was not a one-off event for this talented and intrepid bird collector.
So there was plenty to play for – it would have been too much for so many – and last weekend it would all have seemed far-fetched to MacIntyre.
At the time, MacIntyre had neither a visa nor a caddy. The former was resolved with a phone call to Tour Central, but the latter proved to be a bigger problem. MacIntyre is a hugely popular character, but deserves a certain reputation when it comes to the bagmen. He’s already experienced two this year, which was understandable at the start of his American adventure when he was struggling with loneliness.
Lately, however, he has been on the rise, finishing a thrilling tie for eighth at the USPGA a fortnight ago. MacIntyre was a good catch for whichever looper landed him, but as things stood last Saturday, he was considering the prospect of hiring a local caddy at the country club an hour south of Toronto.
Eventually, MacIntyre called the family home in Oban and told Dougie he was needed. It was a wise move. “Look, caddies are so valuable here, especially on a course like this with a lot of slopes,” MacIntyre said. ‘I’ve had a few. It’s just different [with his father]because he means well. I know the caddies mean it for another reason – I mean, they obviously want us to do well – but my dad wants me to do well because we’re made of blood.
The tire is safe. In his role as greenkeeper at Glencruitten Golf Club, and himself a scratch player, Dougie taught his son the game. He also taught Bob to play shinty and still encourages him to play for the local team he coaches. It brings MacIntyre back to earth. Even if he should be on Cloud Nine right now.
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