Robert MacIntyre put himself within the body to make subsequent 12 months 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 outdoors Rome.
“That is what I need. That is my solely purpose 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 I’ve made a superb begin.”
Ryder Cup qualification factors for Europe’s workforce began being awarded final week at Wentworth.
It was solely the second victory of the 26-year-old MacIntyre’s profession nevertheless it 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 just a few toes to clinch it after Fitzpatrick had gotten into bother by driving into the tough.
“This implies every part,” 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 correct folks and there is a lot onerous work gone into this.”
France’s 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.
“Large congratulations,” Donald stated on Twitter. “Confirmed plenty of guts and resolve within the playoff to get it carried out.”
“I performed with Bob final week in Wentworth,” Donald advised The Related Press. “Seems to be like a robust participant, however a robust thoughts – he appears to be like very fearless on the golf course, which you will want in a Ryder Cup. It is a pressure-packed scenario.”
The U.S. romped to a document rout over Europe in Whistling Straits, Wisconsin, final 12 months, and Donald seems desirous about including some new gamers to his workforce.
“There’s plenty of younger expertise on the market,” Donald stated. “It is an incredible alternative for them to point out me what they’ve and to be part of that workforce come 12 months.”
From Sept. 29 to Oct. 1, 2023, Marco Simone will turn out to be 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 fully redesigned just a few years in the past with the Ryder Cup in thoughts and proved to be a severe take a look at this week throughout all kinds of climate — together with warmth, rain, wind earlier than Sunday’s good circumstances.
“It has been a very good take a look at,” Donald stated. “Clearly a really sturdy area and scoring has been not simple.
“A few of these guys who’re more likely to be within the Ryder Cup workforce subsequent 12 months would have seen every part this week. So I feel that is good that they’re going to be very ready.”
Thick tough and tall grass lining the slender fairways had been designed to favor Europe’s workforce.
“Begin of this week, I did not suppose this was going to be (my) fashion 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 practically 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 battle 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 obtained a dogged angle, by no means surrender, if I get punched, I punch again,” MacIntyre stated. “The birdies coming in had been large and fortunately I obtained within the playoff.”
