Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre finished tied for fourth at the PGA Tour season-opening Sony Open in Hawaii, shooting a final-round bogey-free 63, his best score of the tournament. Despite a strong showing, the 29-year-old reflected on how attitude and equipment mishaps cost him a chance at his third career PGA Tour victory.
MacIntyre ended the week four strokes behind American Chris Gotterup, the tournament winner, moving up one spot in the Official World Golf Rankings to sixth, just ahead of fellow American JJ Spaun. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, who finished joint third at the Dubai Invitational, remains the top-ranked British golfer, sitting second globally behind Scottie Scheffler, with England’s Tommy Fleetwood in third among UK players.
Broken Putter and Missed Opportunities
MacIntyre’s frustrations centered on a putter break after missing a short, three-foot putt on the 18th green on Friday at Waialae Country Club.
“Doing that cost me a shot,” said MacIntyre, the 2022 US Open runner-up.
“My attitude cost me this golf tournament, and I can’t be allowing that. Big reminder that your mindset has to be right for 72 holes, not just 36.”
Despite the setback, MacIntyre displayed remarkable resilience. He recorded five birdies in a rapid 30 strokes to the turn, adding further gains on the 15th and 18th holes to finish 12 under par for the week.
“Felt like I missed in the right spots off the tee to give myself chances, and I putted beautifully,” he reflected.
“Last year, I felt like I did a great job maintaining my attitude, so this was a massive reminder.”
Strong Field in Hawaii
The Sony Open featured a competitive field of top PGA Tour players. Gotterup clinched the title with a final-round 64, finishing two strokes ahead of Ryan Gerard. Patrick Rodgers, also from the US, ended one further back in third.
Among other British golfers, England’s Harry Hall claimed a share of sixth place with a final-round 69, just behind MacIntyre, showing strong form early in the 2026 PGA Tour season.
MacIntyre Eyes Future PGA Tour Success
Despite the disappointment of narrowly missing out on the title, MacIntyre’s performance signals he is in excellent form for the season ahead. The experience underlines the importance of mental focus, equipment readiness, and consistency across all four rounds, lessons that are crucial for chasing PGA Tour victories and maintaining high world rankings.
“You’ve got to be in the right position at the right time to allow a round like today to finish off,” MacIntyre said.
“It’s a big reminder for me—attitude has got to be spot on for the full tournament, and I’ll carry that forward this season.”
Key Takeaways from the Sony Open 2026
- Winner: Chris Gotterup (USA) – Closing 64
- Runner-up: Ryan Gerard (USA)
- Tied 4th: Robert MacIntyre (SCO) – Final-round 63
- Other notable Brits: Harry Hall (ENG) – T6, Rory McIlroy (NIR) – Competing in Dubai
MacIntyre will look to build on this solid start as the PGA Tour 2026 continues, aiming for a third career victory and a stronger presence in the Official World Golf Rankings.
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