Just over a week ago, Scottish golfer Robert MacIntyre called his father, Dougie, and asked if he’d fly to Canada to caddie for him at the RBC Canadian Open. MacIntyre was feeling homesick and was searching for a caddie that was the right fit after changing loopers a couple of times in recent months.
The result: Dougie helped guide his son to his first PGA Tour win, a one-shot victory over American Ben Griffin.
“I’m speechless, to be honest,” said MacIntyre following his round. “I’m crying with joy, but I’m laughing because I didn’t think it was possible.”
MacIntyre, playing in the final group, started the day with a four-shot lead, but bogeyed the first hole. Suddenly, MacIntyre’s lead had vanished when Canadian Mackenzie Hughes surged up the leaderboard with three consecutive birdies.
“I had a good idea that I guess the first five or six holes I had gotten myself right in the mix,” Hughes said following his round. “I saw Robert hadn’t got off to the fastest start, so I knew I was kind of right there.”
But Hughes couldn’t stay in the mix, and MacIntyre opened a commanding lead before giving a couple of shots back and bringing Griffin, who shot a final round of 5-under par, into the mix.
Key Moment
With three consecutive birdies starting on the 15th hole, Griffin, paired in the final group with MacIntyre, climbed to within a shot when he reached the 18th tee. Suddenly, a tournament that at points lacked drama during a wet and uncomfortable Sunday, came down to the final hole. Griffin’s approach to the tricky 18th at Hamilton went slightly left, and MacIntyre hit a tremendous approach that finished 11 feet left of the hole. Two putts later, he’d won his first tournament on the PGA Tour.
Father’s Day Came Early
An emotional MacIntyre choked back tears as he acknowledged how his father had helped him during the week in Canada.
“He was trying to tell me, ‘Stay focused. Just swing smooth,” because yesterday I got too fast,” MacIntyre said. “In my head, I wasn’t listening to him because I wanted to win this for my dad. This is the guy that taught me the game of golf and I can’t believe I’ve done this with him on the bag.”
What’s In The Bag
Driver: Titleist TSR2
3-wood: Cobra Aerojet LS
Hybrid: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Rescue
Irons: Titleist 620 CB (4-9 irons)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46 degrees) SM9 (50 and 56 degrees), WedgeWorks (60 degrees)
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour
Canucks In The Mix
Mackenzie Hughes has a long and deep connection to Hamilton Golf and Country Club, having worked as a volunteer at the RBC Canadian Open as a teenager while growing up in nearby Dundas, Ont. Heading into the final round, Hughes had a shot to become the second Canadian in two years to win the country’s national open, starting the final round at 10-under, four shots back of MacIntyre. Hughes started strong with birdies on three of his first four holes and tied for the lead, but stumbled the rest of the way to finish at 10-under par.
In all, five Canadians made the cut, and it was Corey Conners who moved to the top with a 5-under 65 in the final round to move to 6th place.
“All day the support from the Canadian fans was incredible,” Conners, from Listowel, Ont., said after his third round, where he dished off his hat to a fan. “A kid was really wanting my hat walking off the 18th green, so I remember being a kid here at the RBC Canadian Open and, yeah, hopefully put a smile on his face.”
Though there were Canadians in the mix, no one was going to follow Nick Taylor, who snapped the drought of Canadian winners when he rolled in a 72-foot putt last year at Oakdale Golf and Country Club. “I feel like there’s always somebody who is right there with an outside chance or a good chance,” said Conners after his final round. “It just goes to show how strong Canadian golf is.”
The Rink
Among the key attractions for the tournament again this year was “The Rink,” an elaborate setup where the 13th hole was framed with boards to resemble an arena. Fans pounded on the boards, roared their approval—and jeered poor shots—and sang the Canadian national anthem to Mike Weir, Mackenzie Hughes, and others. Hughes, who donned a Maple Leafs jersey while playing the hole, appreciated the unique atmosphere.
“That was pandemonium,” Hughes said. “I mean because [the fans are] like on top of you. I mean, on that Rink, there’s like no space. It’s just like the boards are right there on the tee and they’re banging and they’re screaming. Walking on that tee, again, just a total hair-raising moment where, I mean, I’m trying to play it pretty cool, but inside I’m thinking this is really, really cool.”
By The Numbers
The tournament at Hamilton Golf and Country Club, a historic private club was an unquestioned success with record attendance at the event. Golf Canada said the build out of corporate hospitality was over 200,000 square feet, with over 400 different corporate clients, and 9,600 hospitality guests on site each day.
Congratulations on a very good event!
Just to clarify: Mackenzie Hughes actually grew up in nearby DUNDAS ( the tournament was in Ancaster) both parts of the city of Hamilton in Ontario on the tip of Lake Ontario.