Scotland’s {golfing} hero Robert MacIntyre was topped king of the Alfred Dunhill Hyperlinks Championship on the long-lasting 18th inexperienced at St Andrews after taking route 66 to the title.
MacIntyre, the satisfaction of Oban, gained his fourth DP World Tour occasion and his second in Scotland precisely seven days after starring for Europe within the magnificent Ryder Cup victory towards the USA at Bethpage Black.
He stated: “It’s sensible, a particular win, and as a Scotsman there isn’t a different place I’d need to win greater than St Andrews. I’ve gained a Scottish Open final yr, and now a Dunhill Hyperlinks right here – and likewise a Ryder Cup in between.
“The one factor that might high that is if I may win an Open Championship at St Andrews, so we’ll attempt our greatest to have a good time it tonight. Unsure how we’re going to do this after the celebration we had in New York final Sunday, but it surely’s going to be good, particularly with household having travelled over to observe me play as we speak.”
HOME FAVOURITE
With big dwelling galleries cheering him each step of the way in which across the Outdated Course, MacIntyre shot a six-under-par 66 – his third 66 of an occasion trimmed to 54 holes because of the persistent excessive winds that precipitated Saturday’s scheduled third spherical to be cancelled.
MacIntyre is the primary Scottish winner of the Dunhill Hyperlinks since Colin Montgomerie in 2005 and solely the fourth Scot to expertise the fun of holding the trophy aloft on the House of Golf. Stephen Gallacher triumphed in 2004 and Paul Lawrie claimed the inaugural title in 2001.
Ever-popular Bob is now solely the second Scot after Montgomerie to win each the Alfred Dunhill Hyperlinks Championship and the Scottish Open. Montgomerie gained his Scottish Open title in 1999.
“To have my identify on trophies that carry a few of the nice names in golf is actually one thing particular and as a child I used to observe occasions just like the Dunhill and dream of with the ability to play in them.
“And I’ve liked to return to St Andrews. I’ve been coming right here with the household for years, generally simply to stroll on the seashore and to be within the city moderately than to play golf. However the entire place is golf heaven and I’ll at all times play right here at any time when there’s a match on.”
RUNNING ON FUMES
MacIntyre additionally joked about changing into Dunhill Hyperlinks champion after arriving again in Scotland “operating on empty” and with few expectations following the hype and stress of an away Ryder Cup.
“To be sincere I don’t understand how I’ve completed it this week. I’ve completed all the things towards the ebook. I got here right here simply desirous to take pleasure in it and attempt to play properly however I solely pitched up on Wednesday, performed simply 11 holes or so on the Outdated Course and have completed all the things this week that I’d not have completed in a traditional week.
“And it’s not simply been no actual preparation, though clearly I do know the three programs properly. My weight loss plan has not been good both this week – I’ve eaten loads of fish and chips and different takeaways. Nor have I completed any of my health club work.”
MacIntyre picked out the second of his three 66s as the important thing to his victory, a tour de pressure at Kingsbarns to defy heavy rain and robust winds that pressured play to be suspended simply after he had completed his spherical.
“All three rounds have been vital, in fact, however Kingsbarns was the spherical that might simply have gotten away from me,” he added. “I even shocked myself with that 66. It was unbelievable. I do know the extent that I can play at, however I do maintain stunning myself at occasions however to exit and do it this week and recover from the road this week may be very particular.”
MAJOR FOCUS
As for the longer term, subsequent April’s Masters at August is an enormous focus now for MacIntyre. “It’s no secret that it’s Main Championships now that I would like,” stated the world No 9.
MacIntyre gained by 4 photographs from his fellow Ryder Cup hero Tyrrell Hatton, who shot a seven-under-par 65 at St Andrews to complete on 14-under-par.
One other Englishman, John Parry, was an additional stroke again on 13-under-par alongside South Africa’s Richard Sterne, whereas the opposite two members of Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup group to play this week – Matt Fitzpatrick and Tommy Fleetwood – each completed on nine-under-par.
The Alfred Dunhill Hyperlinks Championship is a celebration of Hyperlinks golf, performed over the Outdated Course St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, three of the best Hyperlinks programs on the planet.
With a prize fund of US$5 million, the Alfred Dunhill Hyperlinks incorporates two separate competitions – an Particular person Skilled match for the world’s main golfers and the Crew Championship during which the professionals are paired with beginner golfers which creates a singular environment.
CELEBRITIES
Among the many superstar amateurs taking part in have been Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Invoice Murray, Matthew Goode, Ronan Keating, Tom Chaplin, Dave Farrell, Mike Rutherford, Huey Lewis, Piers Morgan, Peter Jones, Andy Murray, Wayne Gretzky, Kelly Slater, Steve Redgrave, A.P. McCoy, Kevin Pietersen, Allan Lamb, Mark Nicholas, Michael Vaughan, Schalk Burger Jnr, Morné du Plessis and Rob Louw.
That is the fortieth yr that Alfred Dunhill has supported golf at St Andrews – first within the Alfred Dunhill Cup from 1985, then within the Alfred Dunhill Hyperlinks Championship from 2001. Throughout that point, many tens of millions have been raised for charity.
In June 2011 the Alfred Dunhill Hyperlinks Basis was established because the official Basis of the Alfred Dunhill Hyperlinks Championship. The Basis is dedicated to growing younger beginner golfers in Scotland and South Africa and likewise helps the College of St Andrews and the St Andrews Pilgrim Basis, which refurbishes and preserves historic monuments within the city.
For Stay Scoring click on right here for professional’s and right here for group.
