If you don’t succeed at first, try again. After coming so close last year to becoming only the second man from Scotland to win a national open, Robert McIntyre has set himself up to do just that at the 2024 Scottish Open. Making the most of a moving day at the Renaissance Club, the Scot shot a 63-under-par – the day’s low round – to reach 15-under-par and just two strokes off the 54-hole pace set by Ludvig Aberg at 17-under-par.
“It’s great,” McIntyre said. “I said from the beginning that I just wanted to have a chance before Sunday, and I’ve given myself that chance. When I came back to Scotland I said from the beginning that I wanted to win, but I can only control myself, and I’ve been able to control myself very well so far. I’ve got 18 holes to go to control myself more.”
“I wasn’t shy about saying it: The Scottish Open is the tournament I want to play. It’s not going to change tomorrow. I’m in this position. I’ve done good things. I’ve played well. Not just this week but over the last eight weeks, I feel like my game has been in good shape. Tomorrow is just another round of golf, and I have to control myself, and if I do that well, I’ll have a chance.”
McIntyre’s march to the top of the standings began Saturday with an eagle-3 on the fifth hole. After hitting a 40-foot putt, the powerful lefty took to the field. He chipped in three perries over the next seven holes, putting the crowd favorite at 15-under before hitting a foul shot into an over-par on the tricky 12th hole.
Shortly after, McIntyre was able to achieve a positive result by scoring two consecutive goals on the 15th and 16th holes, thus outperforming all competitors. On the golf course, Aberg struggled in the first part of the back nine, scoring errors on the 11th and 12th holes, which dropped him from the lead.
McIntyre’s lead was extended to two points in an instant, but his first three putts of the day on the final hole turned into his second error of the round as he settled for 15 under par. Thanks to saving crucial putts and late birdies off Aberg’s blade on the 15th and 17th holes, the young Swede is now in position to hold the lead alone for the second straight time.
While Aberg’s name is at the top of the standings after 54 holes, it’s McIntyre’s that will be cheered on Sunday. Hoping to right the wrongs of last year’s tournament when his birdie putt on the final hole wasn’t enough to stop Rory McIlroy’s charge, McIntyre finds himself in a new situation with a nation full of golf fans behind him.
“I’m very happy,” McIntyre said. “The last hole is tough, whether it’s flat and calm or upwind or against the wind, it’s tough. And when they put the pin up there, it makes it even tougher. Overall, I played very well. The hole from the tee to the green was strong again. I had a great swing. I just had to let it happen.”
Leader
1. Ludwig Aberg (-17)
If Aberg’s third round was poor, that’s because it was — at least by his standards. The world No. 4 birdied 8 of 13 fairways and 12 of 18 greens, but he still managed to extend his lead from one to two. After playing the first 10 holes in perfect fashion, Aberg started to have some trouble with over-par shots on the par-4 11th and par-3 12th, but unlike his peers, he finished like a champion. He made three over-par shots on the final six holes, turning a two-shot deficit into a two-shot lead.
Other competitors
2. Robert McIntyre (-15)
3. Adam Scott (-14)
T4. Collin Morikawa, Sahith Thegala, Sungjae Im, Antoine Rosner (-13)
T8. Rory McIlroy, Erik van Rooyen, Matteo Manassero (-12)
Most of the contestants fared no better than expected. Thigala tied for the lead when he reached 15-under par with a birdie on the 16th hole, but missed the final two holes to move four strokes clear of Aberg with 18 to go. Thigala is now five strokes ahead on the final two holes of the week, while Morikawa and McIlroy also made a bogey on the 18th on Saturday. Thigala and Morikawa are among several PGA Tour stars yet to win this season, while McIlroy is aiming to become the first player to successfully defend his Scottish Open title.
“I kept hitting good shots, especially the last few holes,” McIlroy said. “I think I missed three putts from eight feet on the 15th, 16th and 17th, and I couldn’t capitalize on them, and I missed the last hole. So, the last four holes, I probably played the worst I could have played, which is unfortunate because I felt like I could have been 15 shots ahead of my closest opponent, and to lose one shot on the last hole is disappointing.”
The importance of a quick start
Scoring conditions have been ideal at Renaissance Club this week, but the first third of the course in particular is where the scoring needs to be. On Saturday, the first six holes played more than one stroke under par with players like McIntyre, Thegala and Tommy Fleetwood playing 4 under par or better. With Aberg holding a two-stroke lead, fast starts will be required from the chasing pack on Sunday. Fortunately for them, there will be plenty of opportunities.
“I started well and tried to ride that momentum,” McIlroy said. “I didn’t start as fast on the first nine as I did yesterday. But that’s what I’m going to need tomorrow. I’m going to need to get at least three under par in five rounds to be able to get into the lead and then try to keep that going.”
2024 Scottish Open Odds and Picks Updates
- Ludwig Aberg: 4/7
- Robert McIntyre: 9/2
- Adam Scott: 12-1
- Collin Morikawa: 12-1
- Rory McIlroy: 14-1
- Sungjae Im: 18-1
- True Tigala: 22-1
A two-stroke lead from Aberg, plus his firepower, would allow him to claim his biggest win yet. I don’t hate the 4/7 price, but if there’s any interest in a player outside the pack, McIlroy might be the man. He ranks third in strokes gained from tee to green, second in strokes gained from tee, and first in strokes gained around the green for the week. A five-stroke lead is big, but we’ve seen Rory come close to winning matches before, and his stats suggest he’ll do just that on Sunday.
Rick Gehman and Patrick McDonald recap Saturday’s action at the Genesis Scottish Open and prepare you for Sunday’s final round. Follow and listen to The First Cut on Apple Podcast And Spotify.
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