Mcilroy wins Scottish Open

Rory Mcilroy is heading to the season’s final major a winner after birdieing the final two holes on Sunday to win the Genesis Scottish Open at Renaissance Club in thrilling fashion.

“This is right up there with the best of them,” Mcilroy said after the win.

Playing in brutally difficult winds, Mcilroy hit back-to-back wonderful iron shots to inside 11 feet from outside 200 yards, first at the par-3 17th and then an incredible approach at the par-4 18th, to set up the winning birdies. The Northern Irishman shot a two-under 68 to finish at 15-under par and win by one stroke.

“I thought if I could birdie one of the last two and get into a playoff, that would be a bonus,” he said. “The two iron shots I hit — the 5-iron into 17 and the 2-iron into the last — are probably two of the best shots I’ve hit all year. And then to finish them off with the putts as well, it feels absolutely amazing.”

The 34-year-old superstar held the 54-hole lead but stumbled early on Sunday making four bogeys on his front nine, dropping two shots before making the turn. It took a flawless four-birdie back nine 31 from the Northern Irishman to get the job done.

Mcilroy’s impressive finish denied 26-year-old Scotsman Robert Macintyre from winning his national open on home soil. Macintyre shot a Sunday six-under 64 that included a miracle shot of his own from the rough at the 18th hole, a huge cut fairway wood that rode the wind for 213 yards before finishing just three feet from the hole. It looked to be enough for the hometown boy until Rory’s electric finish. Mcilroy apologized to Macintyre for stealing the victory during a postround embrace.