Robert MacIntyre put himself within the body to make subsequent yr Ryder Cup as he beat U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick on the primary gap of a playoff to win the Italian Open on the Marco Simone course exterior Rome.
That is what I would like. That is my solely aim for the season — to make that Ryder Cup workforce, MacIntyre stated after he received on the course which can host the 2023 occasion. I feel Ive made a superb begin.
Ryder Cup qualification factors for Europes workforce began being awarded final week at Wentworth.
It was solely the second victory of the 26-year-old MacIntyres profession but it surely got here towards a high quality area that included European tour chief Rory McIlroy, who completed fourth after hitting his tee shot on the drivable sixteenth into the water.
MacIntyre posted a 7-under 64 for the most effective ending spherical Sunday and completed regulation tied at 14 underneath (270) with Fitzpatrick, who received his first main title at Brookline, Mass., in June.
Within the playoff on the 18th gap, MacIntyre sunk a birdie putt from a couple of toes to clinch it after Fitzpatrick had gotten into hassle by driving into the tough.
This implies every little thing, MacIntyre stated. I used to be down and out two or three months in the past. I did not know what I used to be doing. Did not know the place to go. However I spoke to the precise individuals and there is a lot arduous work gone into this.
Frances Victor Perez completed third, one stroke behind, after lacking a birdie putt on 18; and McIlroy ended up two strokes again.
Europe captain Luke Donald, who completed tied for thirty fourth, was fast to reward MacIntyre.
Huge congratulations, Donald stated on Twitter. Confirmed quite a lot of guts and resolve within the playoff to get it executed.
I performed with Bob final week in Wentworth, Donald instructed The Related Press. Appears like a powerful participant, however a powerful thoughts – he appears very fearless on the golf course, which you will want in a Ryder Cup. It is a pressure-packed state of affairs.
The U.S. romped to a report rout over Europe in Whistling Straits, Wisconsin, final yr, and Donald seems interested by including some new gamers to his workforce.
Theres quite a lot of younger expertise on the market, Donald stated. It is an ideal alternative for them to indicate me what theyve and to be part of that workforce come 12 months.
From Sept. 29 to Oct. 1, 2023, Marco Simone will turn into the third venue in continental Europe to host the Ryder Cup after Valderrama in Spain (1997) and Le Golf Nationwide in France (2018).
The hilly Marco Simone course was utterly redesigned a couple of years in the past with the Ryder Cup in thoughts and proved to be a severe check this week throughout all kinds of climate — together with warmth, rain, wind earlier than Sundays good circumstances.
It has been a extremely good check, Donald stated. Clearly a really robust area and scoring has been not simple.
A few of these guys whore more likely to be within the Ryder Cup workforce subsequent yr would have seen every little thing this week. So I feel that is good that theyre going to be very ready.
Thick tough and tall grass lining the slender fairways had been designed to favor Europes workforce.
Begin of this week, I did not assume this was going to be (my) model of golf course, MacIntyre stated. [But] I used to be capable of management my golf ball with wedges and irons and even the hybrid that went into the bag final week.
Fitzpatrick almost produced an albatross when his second shot on the par-5 twelfth from 212 yards hit the pin. Whereas Fitzpatrick completed off his eagle from 4 toes, MacIntyre was beginning to wrestle a few holes forward on 14 when he discovered the tough and bogeyed.
However MacIntyre pulled it again collectively and birdied on 18 to place the strain on Fitzpatrick in regulation.
I hit a horrible shot and was again towards the wall, and once more, simply received a dogged perspective, by no means quit, if I get punched, I punch again, MacIntyre stated. The birdies coming in had been large and fortunately I received within the playoff.