MacIntyre Rediscovers His Spark Ahead of Canadian Open Defence

Robert MacIntyre Sees Light at the End of the Tunnel in Rollercoaster 2025

Twelve months ago, Robert MacIntyre stood in the spotlight with a broad grin and his dad, Dougie, by his side on the 18th green at the Hamilton Golf & Country Club. It was a father-son fairytale – the Scot’s first PGA Tour win sealed at the 2024 Canadian Open, with his father acting as his caddie.

Now, as the 28-year-old prepares to defend his title at a new venue – TPC Toronto – the mood is a little more reflective, yet cautiously optimistic. After a mixed start to his 2025 season, MacIntyre says he’s beginning to feel a shift in momentum. The road hasn’t been easy, but as he puts it, there’s finally “light at the end of the tunnel.”

A Rocky Road in Year Two

MacIntyre’s sophomore season on the PGA Tour has been a testing one. The high of that breakthrough win in Canada has given way to a campaign marked by inconsistency and the kind of growing pains that often accompany the second year on tour.

Three top-10 finishes have shown flashes of what he’s capable of, but for much of the season, the Oban native has wrestled with aspects of his short game.

“It’s not been easy sailing for me this year,” MacIntyre admitted with typical honesty. “It’s been a little bit of trying to fix certain things. But now I feel like we’re on the right path and the game’s starting to kind of merge together.”

While his long game – from tee to green – has remained solid, MacIntyre has been less happy with his work around the greens, particularly on the unfamiliar grainy putting surfaces of North America.

“Chipping’s not been the best. Not that I’ve got a major problem, but I’ve been chipping on grainy greens that I’m not used to,” he explained.

A Change on the Greens

Robert MacIntyre enjoyed ‘a fairytale’ 2024. This season? Not so much

The biggest change in his game this year has come on the greens. In search of answers, MacIntyre made a switch in his putting coach earlier in the season at Pebble Beach – a decision that appears to be paying off.

“Putting, I’ve been struggling,” he said. “But since I changed putting coaches at Pebble Beach, my putting is now coming back to where I want it to be. My game is in a great spot again and I’m looking forward to what is ahead.”

That sense of hope is backed up by his recent form. A tie for sixth at the Charles Schwab Challenge was followed by a solid T20 finish at the Memorial Tournament. Not spectacular, but certainly a step in the right direction for a player trying to rediscover his rhythm.

Returning to the Scene of the Dream

While this week’s RBC Canadian Open will be held at a different course – TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley – MacIntyre took time to revisit Hamilton, the site of his greatest moment on tour so far.

It was there, under the summer sun last June, that he held off the chasing pack and celebrated victory in one of the most heartwarming scenes of the season – Dougie MacIntyre, with tears in his eyes and pride written all over his face, walking stride-for-stride with his son up the 18th fairway.

“I said to my dad last week, ‘Do you want to come to Canada again? You’re not caddying, but you can come and have a holiday again,’” MacIntyre shared with a smile.

Dougie was initially hesitant, reluctant to leave his work commitments, but MacIntyre’s mum stepped in. “She said, ‘You’re 60 now – get to Canada!’”

So off they went – not to Osprey Valley just yet, but to Hamilton, where they enjoyed a quiet round, just the two of them.

“They actually put the pin positions out for the Sunday of the Canadian Open,” MacIntyre said. “So we were kind of reminiscing about certain shots, certain putts. It’s just special for me and my dad to go back there and just enjoy a round of golf without the media, without the crowds, without any hassle. Just reliving a moment.”

A One-of-a-Kind Memory

Winning a PGA Tour event is hard enough. Winning one with your dad as your caddie? That’s the stuff of dreams.

“I don’t know if it will be done again on the PGA Tour, to be honest with you, winning with your dad on the bag,” MacIntyre said, reflecting on that unique moment. “It was great fun.”

It’s a memory that now acts as both motivation and perspective. The highs of 2024 were always going to be hard to replicate, but the visit back to Hamilton served as a reminder of how far he’s come – and how much is still possible.

Looking Ahead with Quiet Confidence

With the tournament moving to TPC Toronto, MacIntyre won’t have the same course knowledge as last year, but he arrives with something perhaps more valuable: a renewed sense of belief.

The putter is behaving again, the short game is improving, and the long game has remained a strength. There are no guarantees in golf, but the signs are there that MacIntyre is starting to round into form at just the right time.

“I’m starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “We’re on the right path, and I’m looking forward to what’s ahead.”

For MacIntyre, that includes not only the Canadian Open but also looking ahead to the summer’s bigger events, including potential involvement in another Ryder Cup down the line. But for now, his focus is on the week ahead in Toronto – and perhaps a little more time soaking in the memories that last year’s victory created.

Because while MacIntyre is determined to add more titles to his name, nothing will ever quite match the joy of that first win, with Dougie MacIntyre carrying the bag and the hearts of golf fans around the world.

It might not happen again – but that doesn’t mean it can’t inspire what comes next.