Most parents would do anything to witness their child’s success, but for Robert MacIntyre’s father, spectating wasn’t close enough. Dougie MacIntyre, head greenskeeper at Glencruitten Golf Club in Oban, Scotland, was by his son’s side as he clinched his first PGA Tour title at the RBC Canadian Open on Sunday.
At the last minute, 27-year-old Robert had his father caddie for him, and despite a nervous start, he secured victory by one stroke at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Ontario. This win, the fifth by a Scotsman on the PGA Tour since 1940 and the first since Martin Laird in 2020, earned MacIntyre $1.69 million in prize money – the largest single event total ever won by a Scottish golfer. This prize money will help fulfill Robert’s aim of paying off his parents’ mortgage.
Emotions ran high as father and son celebrated on the 18th green. “I’m crying with joy, but I’m laughing because I didn’t think it was possible,” said MacIntyre to CBS Sports. “Doing this with my dad on the bag means everything to me and my family.”
After his Ryder Cup debut win last October, MacIntyre experienced a mixed start to 2024, highlighted by a tied-eighth finish at the PGA Championship last month. However, he missed the cut at seven events and struggled to adapt to life in the US. Homesick, he returned to Oban in April and decided to bring his father in as his caddie after a string of caddie requests fell through.
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Dougie MacIntyre, who will return to his greenkeeping duties, was overwhelmed. “I’m a grasscutter, not a caddie,” he told CBS Sports. “Last Saturday night, I was at home thinking about my work, and the next morning I was on a flight here.”
Despite his father’s limited caddying experience, the pair worked well together, with MacIntyre maintaining a four-shot lead going into Sunday. Although Canadian Mackenzie Hughes quickly closed the gap, MacIntyre steadied himself with his father’s guidance and clinched the win with a steady par on the final hole.
The victory elevates MacIntyre to a career-high world No. 39, securing his spot at the US Open in Pinehurst, North Carolina, on June 13. However, celebrations are the immediate priority. In a video call with his mother shared on the PGA Tour’s X (formerly Twitter), MacIntyre joked, “You might not see Dad till next week!”
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