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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Matt Majendie

Scottish Open: Robert Macintyre promises to celebrate as The Open looms

Robert Macintyre promised to celebrate hard, despite The Open looming in a few days' time, after winning his home Scottish Open.

MacIntyre, who won the Canadian Open last month, picked up four shots in his last five holes to pip Adam Scott to the title by a stroke.

The victory comes a year after he was denied by Ryder Cup team-mate Rory McIlroy, when the Northern Irishman birdied the last two holes. This time, McIlroy had to make do with a share of fourth place, four shots back.

Victory marks out MacIntyre as among the contenders at Royal Troon, but he said that would not dampen the celebrations, despite teeing off in three days.

"How do I come down from this?" he asked. "I don't think I will. I think I'm just going to try to ride the wave. The Open means a lot to me, but you've got to celebrate the good times, because it doesn't happen a lot.

"Next week's a new week, but I tell you, I'm going to celebrate hard and we'll pitch up to The Open when we pitch up to The Open."

The Scot had been two shots off the lead at the start of his final round and any late charge looked in danger of dissipating as he was one-over for his round with five to play.

But he dropped a 40-foot putt on the 14th and then had a stroke of luck when a wayward shot landed on a sprinkler head at 16, allowing him a free drop and a far better lie. From there, he managed an eagle.

Watched by his family and friends, MacIntyre admitted it was an emotional moment.

"I had a tear in my eye before I hit the putt," said the world No16. "I was getting emotional before I read the putt. This was the one I wanted."

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