Rory makes history, MacIntyre proud of challenge, three players qualify for The Open and the Genesis Scottish Open celebrates a successful Green Drive which resulted in 4,300 trees being planted.
Rory wins in Scotland
Rory McIlroy produced a brilliant birdie-birdie finish to break home hearts and seal his second consecutive Rolex Series title at the Genesis Scottish Open.
The now World Number Two entered the final round with a one-shot lead, but needed to fight all the way on a dramatic day in high winds at The Renaissance Club.
Home hero hero Robert MacIntyre threatened to seal a fairytale win thanks to an impressive 64, which he capped off with a stunning approach to the last to set the clubhouse target on 14 under - at the time one shot clear of McIlroy.
With two holes to go McIlroy produced some closing magic of his own. A tee shot to five feet on the 17th helping move him into a tie, and the Northern Irishman then hit a 2-iron to 11 feet at the last before nervelessly holing his putt to sign for a 68 and seal a remarkable victory.
McIlroy's first victory on Scottish soil now goes alongside the Hero Dubai Desert Classic title he claimed in January in his Rolex Series collection and takes his tally of DP World Tour victories to 16. With his win, he not only becomes the first player to win back-to-back Rolex Series titles, but the first player in history to win the Scottish Open, The Open, and the Irish Open.
Robert MacIntyre was proud of his performance as he came within a whisker of claiming a first Rolex Series title on home soil at the Genesis Scottish Open.
The 26-year-old entered the final day at The Renaissance Club five shots behind leader Rory McIlroy but carded a brilliant 64 - with the help of an incredible approach to three feet from the rough on the last - to set the clubhouse target and lead by one.
McIlroy, however, showed why he is a four-time Major Champion, birdieing the 17th and 18th to leapfrog MacIntyre and claim his second Rolex Series win of the season.
MacIntyre was visibly emotional as he walked off the last, the roars of a bumper home crowd still ringing in his ears after his closing birdie.
And after a season that has seen coaching changes and near-misses - including three dropped shots in his final six holes as he finished in a tie for fourth at last week's Made in HimmerLand - the Scot was delighted to have put on a show on home soil.
"I'm really proud of myself," he said. "Me and (caddie) Greg (Milne) and the whole team behind me.
"I've put in a hell of a lot of work the last five, six weeks with all the changes going on in my team. The trust of switching back to (coach, Simon) Shanks when I really needed him. I felt great in my golf and I felt great in myself in the last wee while.
"But I'm happy and smiling and Greg has done a great job of keeping me happy and smiling and you know what, we can play good golf from there.
"Last week, I felt like I had two hands on the trophy and I let it go. This week, I was nowhere near it. I wasn't even within touching distance of the trophy and went out there and put in a performance.
Three Qualifying Spots
Byeong-hun An, David Lingmerth and Nicolai Højgaard have qualified for The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool through the Genesis Scottish Open.
Byeong-hun An led the way in Scotland after matching the course-record 61 on the opening day, and remained in contention for most of the weekend on his way to earning his ninth start in The Open through the Open Qualification Series at the Genesis Scottish Open.
A level par 70 on a blustery day in Scotland was enough for the South Korean to finish in a tie for third on ten under, four shots behind eventual winner Rory McIlroy.
Lingmerth posted a flawless front nine with a birdie at the par-five third joining eight pars, then added a birdie at ten, a bogey at 12 and a final birdie at the 13th before parring his way in to earn his spot at Hoylake.
The Swede will return to The Open next week for the first time since 2016 where he missed the cut at Royal Troon. His only other appearance was at the Old Course in The 144th Open in 2014 where he finished tied 74th.
Nicolai Højgaard joins An and Lingmerth in the final qualifying spot after finishing one behind on nine under par, booking his third appearance following a missed cut in 2018 and a tie for 53rd in St. Andrews last year.
The Dane said that he was inspired this week by his twin brother’s victory at last week’s Made in HimmerLand, and he made sure that he’ll join Rasmus in the field at Royal Liverpool after a brilliant performance at The Renaissance Club.
Green Drive campaign at Genesis Scottish Open
The DP World Tour’s sustainability themed Green Drive campaign at the 2023 Genesis Scottish Open has resulted in 4,300 trees being planted.For every player that drove the par four fifth hole on Thursday and Friday and the par four 13th over the weekend, 100 trees are planted in an initiative launched in partnership with One Tree Planted, a non-profit environmental charity that plants trees in countries around the world.
In total, 31 players drove the green at the fifth, while 12 players drove the 13th at The Renaissance Club - most of which came during Sunday's final round. It makes for a total of 43, taking us to 4,300 trees.
One of the most impressive shots of the week belonged to Ludvig Aberg, who almost aced the fifth hole during his effort.
Best shot of the week?
That arguably belongs to either McIlrory or MacIntyre, but this ace for Nicolas Colsaerts deserves a very honourable mention.
Since turning professional in November 2000, Colsaerts has achieved many great things, winning twice on the European Challenge Tour, three times on the DP World Tour and becoming the first Belgian to play in a Ryder Cup at the Miracle at Medinah. Later this year he will also serve as a Ryder Cup vice captain but as he stood on the 14th tee at The Renaissance Club on Friday, there was one box he was yet to tick - a hole in one.
Stood 174 yards from the pin, he took a swipe with a pitching wedge and saw his ball land left of the hole, take a nice bounce and roll its way into the cup, sparking wild celebrations on the tee box after ending his near 23-year wait for a professional hole-in-one.
The toughest break
The toughest of breaks for Sam Burns came in the fairway bunker at the tenth. Within reach of the leaders at this point, Burns was perplexed after his first bunker shot ended up in the face of the same bunker. He was left having to play it as it lies, and slipped down
The best videos of the week
It's hard to choose the best singular video of the week produced at the Genesis Scottish Open, so here is a collection below of the best of the best. From the players being Greeted by Troy Hawke to the Ultimate Day Out and the Beach Clean, there's been a lot of brilliant things to watch from the last week.
