Ryder Cup Hero Robert MacIntyre Nears First PGA Tour Victory with Father as Caddie

European Ryder Cup star Robert MacIntyre is poised to claim his first PGA Tour win, leading by four shots heading into the final round of the RBC Canadian Open. The 27-year-old Scotsman, currently ranked 76th in the world, has relied on his father, Dougie, as his emergency caddie for the tournament.

MacIntyre surged to the top of the leaderboard with a spectacular finish on Saturday, carding five-under-par over his last five holes to post a round of 66, bringing his total to 14-under. He holds a four-shot lead over Ryan Fox, Mackenzie Hughes, and Ben Griffin as they head into the final 18 holes at Hamilton Golf and Country Club.

Having demonstrated strong form recently, MacIntyre contended at the Myrtle Beach Classic and finished tied for eighth at last month’s PGA Championship. A win in Canada would mark his first PGA Tour victory, a milestone made even more special by his father’s presence on the bag.

Dougie MacIntyre stepped in as caddie just days before the tournament, after Robert had cycled through four caddies in the past 18 months in search of the right fit. Dougie’s steadying influence has been pivotal, particularly during challenging moments. Robert credits a straightforward pep talk from his father on the 10th hole for helping him refocus and finish Saturday’s round strong.

“He was having a wee go at me when I was walking from the 10th tee down to the fairway,” MacIntyre said. “He knows how to win, he knows how to lose. He could see my head going a little bit and he reminded me what I’ve been working on for the last eight, 10 weeks. That helped me shift my mindset and find the positives.”

MacIntyre, who earned his PGA Tour card by finishing 13th in the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai rankings last year, is a two-time winner on the DP World Tour. He acknowledges that winning in Canada, especially with his father by his side, would be particularly meaningful.

“It’s just different, it hits differently because he properly means it,” MacIntyre reflected on his father’s support. “My dad wants me to do well because we’re blood. There’s nothing other than pride and guts in what we’re trying to do. He’s been through thick and thin for me. He taught me how to play the game of golf until I really started working with a coach at probably about 14, 15. It was just me, him, and my family going round four holes at Glencruitten Golf Club out of the back of the house for many years.”

Meanwhile, world number two Rory McIlroy remains in contention, albeit with an outside chance, after a five-under round on Saturday brought him within seven shots of the lead. England’s Tommy Fleetwood and Aaron Rai are also chasing, at nine and eight-under respectively, but MacIntyre enters Sunday as the favorite.