Robert MacIntyre returns to site of his first victory at RBC Canadian Open

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3 days ago

After winning for the first time on the PGA Tour a year ago at the RBC Canadian Open, Robert MacIntyre hung around the clubhouse with his father, who served as his caddie that week, and several members at Hamilton Golf Club until about 11:30 at night.
'Just drinking beers and just having a good time,' he said on Tuesday during his pre-tournament press conference. 'Nothing wild.'
Robert MacIntyre holds the trophy after winning the 2024 RBC Canadian Open. (Photo: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports)
The 28-year-old Scot returned to the Canadian port city on the western tip of Lake Ontario Monday to play the Hamilton course with his father and a couple of members and relive some of the shots and memorable moments. A flood of fond memories hit MacIntyre, who, a month later, went on to win the Genesis Scottish Open, the tournament he wanted to win the most during his career, other than a major.
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'It's always special to come back somewhere you've got fond memories of,' he said. 'Last year was kind of a fairytale, the way I won Canada with my dad on the bag, and then winning the Scottish Open. I mean, I honestly couldn't ask for a better year unless I won a major championship.'
Strangely enough, all of MacIntyre's success resulted after he was down in the dumps, having missed the cut prior to the RBC and fighting home sickness and culture shock in the U.S. Having parted ways with his fourth caddie in the last 18 months, he asked his father, Dougie, a greenkeeper back home in Oban, Scotland, 'How would you like to come to Canada and caddie for me at the RBC Canadian Open?'
Dougie was busy at home at Glencruitten Golf Club, but his wife, Carol, gave him a look and said he needed to go be there for his son. Robert admitted he had asked a few others to be on the bag but no one wanted a one-week gig.
'If in doubt, phone dad,' MacIntyre said.
The next morning at 8 a.m., Dougie was on a direct flight to Toronto and seven days later, they were embracing on the 18th green as Robert closed in 2-under 68 to win the 113th edition of Canada's national championship. MacIntyre became the first player to win with his father as his caddie since Heath Slocum had father Hack on the bag at the 2005 Sanderson Farms Championship.
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Following up last year's twin successes hasn't been smooth sailing for MacIntyre, he conceded. This season, his short game hasn't been as sharp and his putting prowess has abandoned him, leading to a coaching change at Pebble Beach in February. He's made 12 of 14 cuts this season and recorded three top-10s, most recently at the Charles Schwab Challenge two weeks ago.
'It's been a little bit of trying to fix certain things. But now I feel like we're on the right path and the game's starting to kind of merge together,' he said. 'Starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel.'
MacIntyre won't have his father on the bag this time, but his old man decided to join him North of the Border thanks to a little prodding from mom.
'Told my dad last week, 'Look, do you want to come to Canada again? You're not caddying, but you can come and have a holiday again.' Again, he's hemming and hawing about leaving his work, and my mom ended up saying, 'Look, you're 60 now. Get to Canada.' He came, and we went there yesterday, and they actually put the pin positions out for the Sunday of the Canadian Open.'
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Robert MacIntyre enjoyed 'a fairytale' 2024. This season? Not so much