With Two Closing Birdies, Rory McIlroy Wins Scottish Open on Eve of British Open

The Ulsterman won for the first time on Tour in 2023 with a pair of improbable birdies as the wind howled at the Renaissance Club.

It didn’t look good for Rory McIlroy, not with the wind howling at the Renaissance Club and Scotland’s favorite son, Robert MacIntyre, putting together one of the all-time great final rounds.

But trailing by a shot with two holes to play, McIlroy hit tremendous iron shots to set up birdies at both finishing holes to edge MacIntyre by a stroke in a dramatic and thrilling finish to the Scottish Open.

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McIlroy, who has had his share of final-day disappointments this year including last month at the U.S. Open, played the back nine in 4 under par to shoot 68 and win for the first time since January at the Dubai Desert Classic.

Rory McIlroy won for the 24th time on the PGA Tour by taking the Scottish Open :: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

"Really proud," McIlroy said. "That was such a tough day. So tough. Especially the back nine. I bogeyed my last two holes on the front nine to go to 2 over (for the day). To play that back nine in 4 under par to win the tournament ... yeah, really proud.

"I stuck in there and hit some amazing shots down the stretch. It feels incredible. It’s been a long six months since I won in Dubai. I hope this win breaks the seal for me."

The timing would be good. This week is the British Open at Royal Liverpool, where McIlroy won the Open in 2014.

In the process, McIlroy overcame the local favorite MacIntyre—known as "Robert Lefty"—who shot a final-round 64 that included his own incredible birdie at the 18th.

Having missed the fairway well to the left, MacIntyre needed a 3-wood to reach the green and curved the ball onto the surface to 4 feet. He was in the clubhouse with a one-shot advantage over McIlroy.

"He had probably one of the best rounds I’ve ever witnessed," said David Lingmerth, who played with MacIntyre. "It was quite impressive."

It just wasn’t enough.

McIlroy captured his first title in Scotland by hitting a close approach from 190 yards at the par-3 17th to tie MacIntyre. Then playing into the wind at the 444-yard par-4 18th, McIlroy’s drive came to rest in a shallow divot. He had 202 left, the perfect distance for a 3-iron—which he didn’t have in his bag.

McIlroy had taken it out in favor of a 2-iron, the club he chose to hit. With a low, piercing shot, McIlroy hit the ball up onto the green, seeing it come to rest 10 feet behind the hole. MacIntyre could only hear the cheering on the 18th green as he practiced for a possible playoff.

"Probably the best shot I hit all year," McIlroy said. "Exactly the way I wanted to play it. And when you hit a shot like that, you probably deserve to make the putt."

McIlroy won for the first time on the PGA Tour in 2023 and second time this season. It was also his second DP World Tour win. The victory gives him 16 on the DP World Tour and 24 on the PGA Tour, which ties him with Gary Player and Dustin Johnson.