03 September 2023 , 16:14
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Robert MacIntyre has secured a place on the European Ryder Cup team for the very first time, after clinching the final spot on the European Points List.
MacIntyre has been on the cusp of a spot on the team in recent weeks, and headed to the Omega European Masters in pole position ahead of the likes of Yannick Paul, Adrian Meronk and Victor Perez. And the Scot finally secured his trip to Marco Simone following Sunday's fourth round.
After an up-and-down week, MacIntyre signed off his tournament by shooting a final round level-par 70 to finish three-under for the tournament and in a tie for 55th.
While the 27-year-old finished 16 shots back of eventual champion - and Ryder Cup hopeful - Ludvig Aberg, his top 60 European Masters finish proved just enough to secure an automatic space in the final week of qualifying, as his nearest challengers Meronk and Paul finished outside the top three.
The Scot's Ryder Cup debut will come at a course he knows well, having won the Italian Open at Marco Simone last October. In July MacIntyre further strengthened his stance in the European Points List, after an impressive second-place finish at the Scottish Open.
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Robert MacIntyre secured his Ryder Cup spot (Getty Images)The Ryder Cup rookie put in one of his top Tour performances, but was agonisingly pipped on home soil by his teammate Rory McIlroy at the Renaissance Club. More recently MacIntyre further aided his spot on the Points List by securing a tied-fourth finish at last week's Czech Masters.
The left-hander has made no secret of his aspirations to make Luke Donald 's European team this year, labelling it his 'only goal' for the season. Speaking after his Italian Open win last year, he said: "It’s [making the Ryder Cup] my main goal, it’s my only goal for the next year. I’ve done it on the golf course.
“At the start of the week I didn’t think this week was going to be the one with the style of golf course, the way it was playing, but we worked on a few things on Tuesday and Wednesday and I felt so in control of my golf ball this week.” MacIntyre will be joined by Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick who booked his place via the World Points List, after finishing in a tie for third in Switzerland.