Genesis Scottish Open

MCILROY SNATCHES VICTORY FROM MCINTYRE IN SPECTACULAR FASHION

Rory Mcllroy birdied the last two holes to seal a dramatic I win for his first victory in Scotland, a win significant for the confidence he will carry into the final major of the year.

Mcllroy had seen his one-shot overnight lead evaporate on a day where 40 mph winds made scoring difficult at the Renaissance Club.

One stroke behind having missed from eight feet for birdie on the par-five 16th, the Northern Irishman played the slope on the par-three 17th to near perfection for a 4-foot birdie putt to tie Scotland's Robert MacIntyre for the lead on 14 under.

Mcllroy then played his best shot of the year on the 18th - a 2-iron into the wind to 10 feet for a closing birdie putt that snatched victory from MacIntyre.

"I'm really proud," said Mcllroy, who will return to the scene of his only British Open triumph at Hoylake in 2014 - the last of his four major titles.