RORY GIVES IT HIS BEST SHOT

Mcllroy's iron resolve kills off MacIntyre hope

- CRAIG SWAN

RORY MCILROY produced his shot of the year to break the heart of an entire nation at the Scottish Open.

The world No.3 smashed a two-iron from 202 yards to within eight feet on the 18th to set up the birdie that denied home hero Bob MacIntyre the chance of a play-off at the Renaissance Club.

Mcllroy had needed to birdie his final two holes to surpass MacIntyre's clubhouse target of 14 under par and the man from Holywood provided a blockbuster ending.

He now goes into the Open at Hoylake on Thursday on a high and admitted the approach to his 72nd hole of the week - a stinger into 20mph wind could not have been better.

McIlroy, who shot a closing 68, said: "It came off absolutely perfectly. Probably the best shot I've hit all year. It was exactly the way I wanted to play it.