If there is a more emotional scene on the PGA Tour this year than Robert MacIntyre hugging his father – and emergency caddie – after winning his debut title on the US circuit, then we should all get ready for the ultimate tearjerker. Because this was rich with emotion.
All day, it had been as if deadpan Dougie was caddieing for his son in the Oban junior championship. But, no, this was MacIntyre Jnr achieving his lifelong dream and when dad and boy hugged, the earducts burst off. With good reason.
MacIntyre had fended off American Ben Griffin by a shot – with Rory McIlroy lurking – to win the Canadian Open and this was clearly a celebration of the heart and the bloodline rather than the fist-pump and the percentage.
There was plenty to take in on a frenetic Sunday at Hamilton Country Club where the 27-year-old ventured out with a four-shot advantage and saw pursuers such as an inspired McIlroy – with a final round 64 – close to within touching distance, before the left-hander dug deep and pulled away again.
It got decidely nervy at the end, when his playing partner Griffin buried three in a row to pull within a shot with one to play. By that point. McIlroy was resigned to finishing fourth, with Frenchman Victor Perez in third.
MacIntyre was rock solid on the 18th, hitting the fairway and then putting it to 12 feet and after Griffin missed his 20-footer to make it interesting, MacIntyre enjoyed the most comfortable lag of his life.
His breakthrough victory comes with so many benefits, starting with entry to next week’s $20 million (£15.6 million) Memorial tournament and then, the week following, with a US Open berth at Pinehurst. He has also grasped a place in next year’s Masters and guaranteed his card on the US circuit for the next two years.
Just as importantly this triumph provides substance to the conviction that he and his many admirers have long held – that last year’s Ryder Cup bow was not a one-off for this talented and fearless birdie-gatherer.
So there was plenty to play for – it would have been too much for so many – and it would have all seemed far-fetched to MacIntyre the previous weekend.
Then MacIntyre had neither a visa or a caddie. The former was fixed with a call to Tour central, but the latter proved more of a problem. MacIntyre is a hugely popular character, but is earning something of a reputation when it comes to the bagmen. He has been through two already this year, which was understandable at the start of his US adventure as he struggled with loneliness.
However, recently he has been on the upturn, recording a rousing tie for eighth at the USPGA a fortnight ago. MacIntyre was a good catch for whichever looper lands him, but as it stood last Saturday he was weighing up the prospect of employing a local caddie at the country club an hour south of Toronto.
Eventually MacIntyre phoned the family home in Oban and told Dougie he was required. It was a wise move. “Look, caddies are so valuable out here, especially on a course like this where it’s a lot of slopes,” MacIntyre said.”I’ve had a few. It’s just different [with his father]because he properly means it. I know the caddies mean it for another reason – I mean they’re obviously wanting us to do well – but my dad wants me to do well because we’re blood.”
The bond is secure. In his role as greenkeeper at Glencruitten Golf Club, and a scratch player in his own right, Dougie taught his son the game. He also taught Bob how to play shinty and still now encourages him to turn out for the local team he coaches. It brings MacIntyre back to earth. Even when he should now be on Cloud Nine.
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