GOLFER Bob MacIntyre expressed his passion and love for Scotland after he won his national open at the Renaissance Club, describing himself as a “die-hard Scot”.
The Oban-born star took the title he came so heartbreakingly close to winning last year with a superb birdie putt on the 18th.
The crowd went wild in East Lothian as he became the first Scot to win the Scottish Open for a quarter of a century.
And in an interview after his victory, MacIntyre said it was the “one I wanted” after many years of happy memories watching the event when it used to be held annually at Loch Lomond.
Asked why the win was so special to him, he said: “Because I’m Scottish. I’m a die-hard Scot.
“Everyone knows I wear my heart on my sleeve, I’m through and through Scottish and it’s the only event I got to as a kid to watch.
“My mum and dad used to take me and a few of my mates to Loch Lomond to watch the Scottish Open and watching the winners walk underneath the arch from behind the green, I’m lucky enough now to be a member there and I’ll never forget them moments.
“It’s just the one that I wanted. Yeah, the majors are now the ones I want, but I wanted the Scottish Open and I got it.”
“I’m a diehard Scot. Everyone knows that.” pic.twitter.com/79ORPJvnhm
— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) July 14, 2024
The dramatic moment on the last came after a stroke of luck on the 16th when, after MacIntyre sent the ball into heavy rough off the tee, he found himself stood on a sprinkler head as he set up to take the shot.
It meant that, instead of what looked to be a very tricky approach shot, he got a drop and subsequently a perfect lie that he took full advantage of, setting up an eagle chance that he also lapped up.
The winning moment on the 18th - which meant MacIntyre avoided a play-off with Australian major winner Adam Scott – was made all the more sweeter given MacIntyre painfully missed out on the title last year to Rory McIlroy.
"I had a tear in my eye before I hit the putt," MacIntyre said.
"I was getting emotional before I read the putt. I still I had a job to do.
“I can't believe it's happened."
MacIntyre will now head to Royal Troon this week in the hope he can back up this historic win with another at The Open, which starts on Thursday.
