Canadian Open: Robert MacIntyre has breakthrough after Dad’s spot on advice

Robert McIntyre struggled throughout the third round of the RBC Canadian Open but ultimately shot a 4-under 66 to take the lead by four strokes.

The Scottish golfer was one over par after the first nine holes but dropped off over the second nine, finishing with two birdies and an eagle on three of the final four holes to finish in 30 strokes.

McIntyre showed a lot of tenacity towards the end and turned the round around.

The 27-year-old led the putting strokes gained in the third round. He had 4.32 shots on the greens. He made 166-foot putts on Saturday, including 133 feet from the field. Back Nine.

McIntyre made birdies from 12 feet, 50 feet and 10 feet, but his eagle, a 30-footer on the par-5 17th, was even more impressive.

“I think it’s just my attitude right now. I felt good from the get-go and didn’t have any expectations at the start of the week,” MacIntyre said. “It never went wrong, it was just a little bit of luck and staying focused in the moment and staying calm and it paid off at the end with the putt.”

McIntyre showed great will and determination on the back nine, a tenacity that came from his father, Dougie, who reminded him to work hard.

“He was kind of teasing me walking off the 10th tee onto the fairway,” McIntyre said. “He could tell my mind was a little shaken up. I got in that mode and just tried to find the positive in everything. Trying to turn the negatives into positives. I started to get some momentum going. When you get on a roll, it’s good.”

Caddies are invaluable to a player, but his father’s words meant more to him than any other caddie had ever said to him at that moment.

“My dad wants me to do well because we’re in the blood. There’s no other way,” McIntyre said. “It’s pride and grit and what we’re trying to do. My dad’s been with me through thick and thin. He taught me how to play golf. For years me, my dad and my family would play four holes at Glencruyten Golf Club behind our house.”

Who knows how the rest of McIntyre’s round would have gone if his dad hadn’t corrected him on the 10th hole? He acknowledged how big a moment it was.

Photo: Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images

“It was just to cheer me on, but I was trying really hard to get out of the way,” he said. “It was really good to have him there and fight with me. It was really good to have him there.”

“I was going up there, grumbling and groaning, but I was on the fairway. No problem. I’m not in the rough. I’m on the fairway. I think that’s what he was trying to tell me, hang in there.”

MacIntyre holds a four-stroke lead over Ben Griffin, Ryan Fox and Canadian Mackenzie Hughes, who is one of Canada’s only players with a chance of defending the title.

Sam Burns, Joel Dahmen and Tommy Fleetwood are all within five strokes of the winner, while Rory McIlroy and Canadian Corey Connors are in the running to win by a large margin, seven strokes back.

Bad weather on Sunday could be a disadvantage, but it could be just what the young Scot needs to secure his first PGA Tour victory.

Savannah Lee Richardson is a Golf Staff Writer for SB Nation Playing Through. Follow us for more golf articles. Follow You can follow us on all major social platforms. You can also follow us on Twitter Follow Instagram: @savannah_leigh_sports