Bob MacIntyre blew a four-shot lead in the final round as the world No 1, Scottie Scheffler, produced a moment of magic to clinch victory at the BMW Championship in Maryland. MacIntyre’s big overnight advantage was whittled to a single stroke after he started Sunday with two bogeys and, despite a gallant effort, he could do nothing to quell the American’s momentum.
Back within touching distance with two to play, MacIntyre watched as Scheffler nailed a remarkable chip from the rough to in effect confirm his victory on the penultimate hole. It was hard to take for MacIntyre, who had produced his own memorable moment on the final hole on Saturday when he sunk a 41ft putt to retain his significant advantage.
Seeking the win that would have sealed his place in Europe’s Ryder Cup team, MacIntyre made a nightmare start on Sunday but Scheffler was also far from perfect, a missed putt restoring the Scot’s two-stroke lead after three holes. The American hauled level on the 5th after MacIntyre found a bunker on his approach shot, and Scheffler looked to be in irresistible form as he moved two clear on the 13th.
A Scheffler bogey five on the 14th reduced his lead again but the 15th proved pivotal as the Oban man failed to capitalise on Scheffler finding a bunker with his approach shot. He missed a birdie putt, while the American nailed his.
But MacIntyre hadn’t given up, and cut the lead to one shot again with two to play, with a birdie four at the 16th after finding the green in two with a 265-yard second shot. However, after Scheffler’s uproarious response on the 17th, MacIntyre failed to respond with more final hole magic and putted out for a three-over-par final round of 73, two shots off Scheffler’s 15-under-par total of 265.
Bob MacIntyre would have secured his Ryder Cup place if he had managed to hold on to his lead after starting the fourth round with a four-shot advantage. Photograph: Andy Lyons/Getty Images
The title was Scheffler’s 18th on the PGA Tour, and the fifth this year, the second season in a row he has managed that total, something done before only by Tiger Woods.
A final round of 67 shunted Tommy Fleetwood up to a tie for fourth place behind American Maverick McNealy, but England’s Harry Hall, who started Sunday tied for fourth, fell back with a disappointing 70 to finish in sixth place.
Rory McIlroy was hampered by back-to-back double bogeys on the 5th and 6th holes as he failed to make inroads on the chasing pack, matching Hall’s final round of 70 to finish down in a tie for 12th.