'The One Kiss I Needed' - Robert MacIntyre Details Key Stroke Of Luck In Scottish Open Success
Robert MacIntyre detailed how wearing a few metal spikes on his golf shoes helped him get a fortunate drop that led to his Scottish Open win
![Robert MacIntyre after winning the Scottish Open](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZYH8mbhwVuZWQJqco955SD-415-80.jpg)
After claiming the Scottish Open title he craved, Robert MacIntyre reflected on a fortunate drop he got on the 16th hole that proved to be "the one kiss I needed" to get the job done.
MacIntyre suffered a heart-breaking near miss to Rory McIlroy 12 months ago and he looked like coming up short again when he drove into thick rough on 16.
As he weighed up his options, MacIntyre then noticed he was stood on a sprinkler head which allowed him to get a free drop.
From there he went on to eagle the par five to get into contention before holing a birdie putt on the last to pip Adam Scott by a shot and lift the trophy he's been looking to win since he was young.
"Yeah, so I mean, I'm shouting and I'm swearing when I'm getting up to the ball because I know that that's my chance to really make birdie coming in," MacIntyre recalled of his drop.
"I got over the ball, looked at it, thinking, I'm in a bit of trouble here. Might manage to move it maybe a hundred yards.
"As I took a step back, obviously there was no high rough where it would tangle the club. So I could take the practise swing, like a foot, foot and a half from the ball, and just a step back.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
"I just heard the clunk; I've got spikes on the front three of my shoes, not on my shoe as spikes, but just the front three studs as metal spikes, and I was like, no way. I've got a sprinkler underneath my foot. Obviously the plastic spikes at the back, you don't feel it.
Robert MacIntyre celebrates holing the winning putt at the 2024 Genesis Scottish Open
"And I said to Mike, 'Am I standing' - 'when I get up to the golf ball, am I standing on that sprinkler?'
"And he's laughing at me going, yeah, yeah. It was just a lucky break. You use the rules to get advantage. You stand on a sprinkler, you're due relief. That was just the one kiss I needed."
MacIntyre said he was going to celebrate his Scottish Open win in style, so much so he doesn't fancy his chances of making his Open Championship press conference scheduled for Monday.
"I think there might be a change of schedule. I don't think I'll be in a fit state to get to Troon. I don't think I'll be legally able to drive," joked MacIntyre.
"How I come down from this, I don't think I will. I think I will just try and ride the wave, and next week, it's the Open Championship. That means, again, a lot to me.
You need a little luck sometimes to win. @robert1lefty's eventful 16th hole. #GenesisScottishOpen | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/sM4aRqOgD2July 15, 2024
"But you've got to celebrate the good times because it doesn't happen a lot and this is one I said I wanted. This, I'm going to celebrate hard and I'll pitch up when I tee the ball on Thursday, whatever time I tee off, I'll try to win the championship. There might be some alcohol still in the system but I will try my best.
"And I'm not really too worried about - I don't want to win Rookie of the Year. I think everything else that comes with this is better than Rookie of the Year.
"But look, I'm going to celebrate this win with my friends and family, everyone that's there. I don't think they are going to be home for a bit tonight."
Paul Higham is a sports journalist with over 20 years of experience in covering most major sporting events for both Sky Sports and BBC Sport. He is currently freelance and covers the golf majors on the BBC Sport website. Highlights over the years include covering that epic Monday finish in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor and watching Rory McIlroy produce one of the most dominant Major wins at the 2011 US Open at Congressional. He also writes betting previews and still feels strangely proud of backing Danny Willett when he won the Masters in 2016 - Willett also praised his putting stroke during a media event before the Open at Hoylake. Favourite interviews he's conducted have been with McIlroy, Paul McGinley, Thomas Bjorn, Rickie Fowler and the enigma that is Victor Dubuisson. A big fan of watching any golf from any tour, sadly he spends more time writing about golf than playing these days with two young children, and as a big fair weather golfer claims playing in shorts is worth at least five shots. Being from Liverpool he loves the likes of Hoylake, Birkdale and the stretch of tracks along England's Golf Coast, but would say his favourite courses played are Kingsbarns and Portrush.
-
BMW Championship Tee Times: Rounds One And Two
FedEx Cup standings leader Scottie Scheffler is grouped with Xander Schauffele for the opening two rounds of the BMW Championship
By Mike Hall Published
-
LIV Golf Individual Bonus Payouts 2024
The final regular LIV Golf event of the season doesn’t just have the usual prize money at stake – there is also the chance for players to earn big money in the individual standings
By Mike Hall Published
-
'I'd A Great Chance Of Winning This Open' - Shane Lowry Admits Troon Near Miss Will 'Hurt'
Shane Lowry thought he'd be heading back to Royal Portrush next year as Open champion again as he felt he was playing well enough to win at Troon
By Paul Higham Published
-
'It's Something I've Always Wanted' - Xander Schauffele Reveals Grand Slam Ambition After Open Victory
Xander Schauffele says he's always had an eye on winning a career Grand Slam even before he became a quick-fire double Major champion
By Paul Higham Published
-
'Nonsense. That's Links Golf Courses' - Paul McGinley Says Shane Lowry Will 'Regret' Open Set-Up Comments
The Golf Channel analyst labelled Lowry's call to have a couple of tees pushed forward on Saturday "nonsense" after the 2019 Open Champion was mildly critical of how the R&A had set Royal Troon up in bad weather
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Watch The Moment World No.1 Scottie Scheffler Tops A Tee Shot At The Open
The American had a moment to forget on the final hole of The Open at Royal Troon
By Mike Hall Published
-
‘I Just Looked At It As A Normal Sunday Of A Normal Golf Tournament’ - Thriston Lawrence Explains ‘Calm’ Mindset To Finish Fourth At The Open
The South African admitted he was far from overawed at the occasion as he claimed his best-ever finish at a Major with fourth at The Open
By Mike Hall Published
-
‘I Left It All Out There’ - Justin Rose Admits ‘Choking Back Tears’ After Close Call At The Open
The Englishman's wait for a second Major championship goes on after he finished in a tie for second alongside Billy Horschel at Royal Troon
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Billy Horschel 'Disappointed' Despite Best Ever Major Finish At The Open
Despite a three-under-par final round, the American left Royal Troon 'disappointed' after finishing two strokes behind fellow countryman, Xander Schauffele
By Matt Cradock Published
-
Xander Schauffele Reveals Caddie Told Him He 'Was About To Puke' On 18th On Way To Open Win
The Open champion has admitted his caddie Austin Kaiser was struggling to keep it together as Schauffele closed in on the Claret Jug
By Mike Hall Published