It wasn’t quite Helicopter Sunday, more Route 66 as Robert MacIntyre got his kicks, and a few pennies too, for a mighty victory in the weather-shortened Alfred Dunhill Links Championship here at St Andrews.
After Saturday’s abandonment in the high winds, which reduced the $5 million Pro-Am at the Old Course, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns to 54-holes, the closing day was the kind of logistical muddle that Noah faced when he had to usher his biblical beasts up the gangplank.
With players still scattered across the three courses to complete the rotation, there was a helicopter parked at Carnoustie just in case a winner emerged from there and had to get whisked over the water for the official prize-giving ceremony back in St Andrews.
MacIntyre made sure the chopper remained grounded, though. His closing six-under 66 on the Old Course – his third 66 of the week – gave him an 18-under aggregate.
By that point, it was fairly obvious that the 29-year-old was going to win. Tyrrell Hatton, the defending champion, was the next-best player in the clubhouse on 14-under after a 65.
Over at Carnoustie, meanwhile, Richard Sterne required a miraculous finish to deny the home hero, but the miracle didn’t transpire and the South African shared third on 13-under.
Some 90 minutes after finishing his closing round, MacIntyre finally got his hands on the trophy.
A week after savouring team glory in the Ryder Cup, the Scot was toasting individual glory in the cradle of the game. The bunting will be getting hung up in Oban again. If it ever comes down, that is.
MacIntyre became the fourth Scotsman to win the Dunhill Links title and the first since Colin Montgomerie 20 years ago.
His cheque for $816,000, will buy a few celebratory libations in the Glencruitten clubhouse as he kicks back for a well-deserved breather.
The Old Course has never been one of MacIntyre’s happiest hunting grounds. A couple of years ago, in this very event, he told the golf writers that, “I couldn’t play this course if my life depended on it.”
He cracked it yesterday as he followed up his Scottish Open win of 2024 at the Renaissance with another memorable moment on home turf.
“And a Ryder Cup in between,” he smiled. “To win anywhere in the world is special, but for a Scotsman at the home of golf, there's no other place you want to win golf tournaments.
“It's special. I keep shocking myself. I know the level that I can play, and I know I can win certain golf tournaments but getting over the line and doing that is a different thing.
“A major championship is what I want now. I've got goals. I know I've got the game. It's now just about piecing it all together.”
After the epic events, and celebrations, at Bethpage Park seven days ago, this was always going to be a very different week.
“I had no expectation, I had no preparation,” he said. “I had done everything this week that I wouldn't do in a normal week.
“I pitched up here on Wednesday afternoon and played about 11 holes at the Old Course. I didn't do my gym work, I’ve eaten plenty of takeaways and fish and chips.
“I’ve done everything that the nutritionists and trainers wouldn’t want me to do this week. But after last week, I was kind of running on empty.”
Aided by a brilliant 66 at Kingsbarns in the worst of conditions on Friday, MacIntyre eased himself to another fine conquest.
Sharing the lead after two rounds, MacIntyre made an early move when he rolled in a 20-footer for a birdie on the opening hole. He was off and running.
Four more gains would follow on the front-nine as his classy wedge play helped fortify his position of authority.
When he picked up another birdie on the 13th, MacIntyre was five shots in front, although his nearest rival at that point, Tapio Pulkkanen, had only played six holes over at Carnoustie.
Wise sages of the ancient links will always tell you that no lead on the Old Course is safe until you’re through the treacherous 17th.
After racking up a double-bogey and a bogey on it in last year’s championship, MacIntyre grumbled that the iconic Road Hole should be “blown up”.
He was almost put in stocks on the Bruce Embankment for such heresy. Yesterday, he three-putted from 80-feet for a bogey on the penultimate hole but there was no damage done.
“There’s a specific hole on the golf course that I don't get along well with, and it showed up again today,” he added with a wry smile.
While MacIntyre celebrated his fourth DP World Tour win, there were reasons to be cheerful too for Glasgow’s Scott Jamieson as he safeguarded his full playing rights on the circuit
The 41-year-old closed with a 70 at Kingsbarns for a 12-under tally and shared fifth, his best result of a trying season, which hoisted him well inside the top-100 on the rankings.
Jamieson can breathe easier now. After a glory-laden week, meanwhile, MacIntyre deserves to take it easy.
