OAKMONT, Pa. — Robert MacIntyre came astonishingly close to achieving one of the greatest comebacks in U.S. Open tournament history. He ended up in second place, yet on a day filled with challenges for many players—winner included—MacIntyre adeptly navigated both the demanding Oakmont course and the adverse weather conditions.
During the final round on Sunday, MacIntyre recorded an impressive 2-under 68, concluding the tournament at 1 over par, just two strokes short of J.J. Spaun’s winning score. Starting the day at a considerable seven-stroke deficit behind leader Sam Burns, MacIntyre made great inroads, clawing back 10 shots on Burns but ultimately fell short against Spaun.
Reflecting on his performance, MacIntyre recounted, “As I was walking up 14 or 12, I noticed on the leaderboard that the leader stood at even par. I realized I was around 3 over at that time. Throughout the week, my mental target was level par. I aimed for four even pars. I nearly got there, but not quite.”
Spaun was still on the course as MacIntyre shared his reflections, leaving the door open for an improbable playoff or even a win. But as Spaun successfully sank a defining birdie putt on the 18th hole, finishing at 1 under, MacIntyre could be seen clapping in acknowledgment.
In U.S. Open lore, Arnold Palmer remains the only player to come from seven strokes behind to win, a feat he achieved in 1960 at Cherry Hills. Unlike Palmer, who began his round with a flurry of birdies, MacIntyre’s surge was about resilience and waiting for the leading contenders to falter. Despite bogeying two of the first three holes to slide to 5 over, he regained momentum with a remarkable 58-foot eagle putt on the par-5 fourth.
“That really calmed me,” MacIntyre noted. “It put me in a good rhythm and right back in the competition. The back nine was purely a battle.”
During a 97-minute weather delay that halted the final round, MacIntyre made sure to stay ready by drying off and stretching. As the round resumed, his play was precise—on the par-4 17th, he drove his tee shot close to the green, allowing him to birdie and move to 1 over. On the closing hole, he faced a birdie opportunity from over 30 feet but couldn’t convert, while Spaun clinched the victory with back-to-back birdies.
MacIntyre’s strong finish forced Spaun to earn the win. Among the top six finishers, only MacIntyre managed to go under par in the final round, and he was the only competitor to achieve sub-par rounds on both Saturday and Sunday.
Reflecting on his mental approach, MacIntyre said, “Today was that day where I thought, Why not me? I trusted myself, my caddie Mike (Burrow), and all the work I’ve put in.”
A member of Europe’s winning Ryder Cup team in 2023, MacIntyre captured his first two PGA Tour victories last year at the Canadian Open and the Scottish Open. The wet conditions at Oakmont didn’t particularly give the Scot an edge.
“When the rain started, I wouldn’t be out there. I’d be indoors like everyone else,” he admitted. “Now that I’ve moved to the PGA Tour, I’m more of a fair-weather golfer.”