Robert MacIntyre Clinches First PGA Tour Title at 2024 RBC Canadian Open

Robert MacIntyre, with his father Dougie by his side as his caddie and a persistent television drone nearby, clinched his first PGA Tour title at the RBC Canadian Open on Sunday.

Entering the final round at Hamilton Golf and Country Club with a four-stroke lead, MacIntyre posted a 2-under 68, edging out playing partner Ben Griffin by a single stroke. The 27-year-old Scottish left-hander sealed his victory with a two-putt par from 12 feet on the par-4 18th, holing out from just 1.5 feet.

“Goosebumps. It’s incredible,” MacIntyre remarked. “Playing golf for a living has always been a dream of mine, and winning on the PGA Tour is beyond belief. Achieving this with my dad on the bag is something special. He’s taught me everything about how I play golf.”

Finishing at 16-under 264, this triumph marks a significant milestone in MacIntyre’s career, occurring in his 45th PGA Tour start. A former player at McNeese State, MacIntyre was also part of Europe’s victorious 2023 Ryder Cup team and has secured two European Tour wins: the 2020 Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Showdown and the 2022 Italian Open.

Throughout the tournament, MacIntyre was visibly frustrated by a television drone he found distracting.

“If it didn’t leave, I was ready to start throwing my clubs at it,” MacIntyre said. “That’s how annoying it was. It’s like a big wasp. I asked them to remove it, and they did.”

In light of going through multiple caddies over the past year, MacIntyre turned to his father as an emergency caddie.

“When I called him to caddie for me this week, my only aim was to play in the tournament,” MacIntyre said. “There were no expectations. I was dealing with visa issues and other distractions. Winning it with him on the bag is still unbelievable.”

Ben Griffin shot a 65, narrowly missing out on the title. He parred the 18th after birdieing the previous three holes.

“I fought hard,” Griffin commented. “It felt like there was a lid on the cup for most of the day. I hit a lot of good putts, but they just kept burning the edges. Despite a few bad putts, I stayed patient.”

Victor Perez of France finished third at 14 under, following a second consecutive 64.

Two-time Canadian Open champion Rory McIlroy also shot a 64, tying for fourth with Tom Kim (64) at 13 under. McIlroy, a past winner at Hamilton in 2019 and St. George’s in Toronto in 2022, joined in celebrating MacIntyre’s achievement. Last year at Oakdale in Toronto, Nick Taylor made history with a 72-foot eagle putt in a playoff, becoming the first Canadian to win the event since 1954.

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