The Open: After winning the Genesis Scottish Open, Rory McIlroy has set his eyes on breaking his major drought at The 151st Open.
McIlroy birdied four of his final eight holes in windy circumstances to win by one stroke over home favourite Robert MacIntyre. It was McIlroy’s first victory since the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in February.
The Northern Irishman’s first triumph in Scotland followed top-10 results in his previous five global appearances, giving McIlroy confidence ahead of the last men’s major of the year at Royal Liverpool, where he won the Claret Jug in 2014.
“I’m really proud of how I just stuck with it and played the back nine in four under par to win the tournament,” McIlroy said. “I hit some incredible shots down the stretch and finished with a really nice putt there.”
“It’s incredible. I can’t believe it’s been six months since I won in Dubai. I’ve given myself a lot of opportunities, and I’m hoping that this win closes the deal for me, especially with the upcoming week.”
McIlroy trailed MacIntyre by a stroke with two holes to play after the Scot’s final-round 64, only to follow a birdie at the 17th with another from 10 feet at the last to claim his second Rolex Series championship.
“It feels absolutely incredible. I’ve had a few close calls recently, so getting across the line and gaining confidence for next week and the remainder of the season is vital.”
After barely losing out on a home triumph, MacIntyre surged up the leaderboard on the last day, combining an eagle and five birdies with a lone bogey, with the Scot shifting his attention to The Open.
“I’ve dreamed of winning it [the Scottish Open] since I watched it at home, and I thought today when I birdied 18, this might be the one,” MacIntyre stated. “But it’s not to be right now, and it won’t be for a long time.”
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