Sometimes, going back to your roots pays off.
That was certainly the case for former McNeese Cowboy Robert MacIntyre, who won his first career PGA Tour event over the weekend at the RBC Canadian Open. He did so by shooting a score of -16, beating Ben Griffin by one shot.
MacIntyre had been going through a series of caddy changes over the past few months. Leading up to this past weekend’s tournament, he had parted ways with his caddy again and needed someone to fill in.
He did not have to go too far through his contacts to find the answer.
MacIntyre asked his father Dougie to fill in. Dougie said yes of course, caddying for his son for the first time since 2017. The two used the bond they have and MacIntyre got off to a great start, shooting 6-under 64 on Thursday.
That momentum kept up, as MacIntyre posted back-to-back rounds of 4-under 66 on Friday and Saturday. He was four shots clear of a field that included the likes of Rory McIlroy, Tom Kim, and other PGA superstars.
Despite entering Sunday with a big lead, MacIntyre would have to battle for his first win on Tour. McIlroy, Kim, and Victor Perez all carded 6-under 64’s to post scores at -13 or -14. Then, Ben Griffin birdied three of his last four holes, getting to -15. That meant that MacIntyre needed to make par on the 18th hole. He ended up with an 11-foot putt, and he drilled it, securing his first win.
When asked by the CBS Sports broadcast what made this one special, MacIntyre did not hesitate to give his answer.
“Because of this,” MacIntyre said, pointing to his father.
The win ensures that MacIntyre will have his PGA Tour status through the 2026 season. It also gets him into the remaining signature events this year.
It seems we will be seeing a lot more from the former Cowboy on the PGA Tour.