Bob MacIntyre and Rory McIlroy's unforgettable GSO Renaissance memories as top golf stars gear up for £8m cracker

Daily Record

21 hours ago

Renaissance recollections build the anticipation for Scottish showpiece
Defending champion Bob MacIntyre created another unforgettable Renaissance memory with his stunning Genesis Scottish Open success 12 months ago.
The Oban hero's brilliant triumph backed up more magical moments, following elite stars Xander Schauffele and Rory McIlroy triumphs in East Lothian.
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But, as the shimmering East Lothian venue gets set for the best-ever staging of the elite event, the tournament's title sponsor is invested on making more magic and scaling even higher peaks in the future.
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MacIntyre, McIlroy, Schauffele and World No.1 Scottie Scheffler headline the hotly anticipated 2025 staging of the £8million cracker on the coast.
Once more, a special field is converging on Scotland and, while excited for the week ahead, Genesis Brand Advisor Graeme Russell is adamant the drive for better year-on-year will never cease.
Looking ahead to the four incredible days, Russell was asked if it feels like the best-ever and responded: 'I think you're right. The sense I get being here in Scotland, getting to talk to a lot of golf fans , the anticipation and expectation has built every year.
'There's the quality of the field. The world's top five, eight of the Top 10 and 13 of the top 20 based on the latest OWGR. It's fantastic. Last year it was the fifth-strongest field in all of men's professional golf and so, yes, that anticipation builds.
'I think it creates excitement and energy from day one of the tournament and there's also a familiarity that everyone now has coming to the Renaissance Club. You have memories. You recall great moments, which can be the great shots. Two years ago, Rory with his two-iron and Bob, I think it was his five-wood. And of course, last year, Bob's approach to the 18th green and winning putt. All of those memories have a cumulative effect.
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'I think the tournament has really truly established itself as the national Open and I think all the stakeholders are very vested in seeing that grow. We've been very lucky with the calibre, not just of the fields that have come, but also the calibre of the winners.'
The cream has risen consistently to the top as Russell continued: 'Xander Schauffele winning in 2022, had to battle on the final round in challenging links golf conditions and that, in my mind and I'm sure that of many others, had a positive influence on his ability to win at Troon last year.
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'Rory, of course, winning in Scotland for the first time and then obviously Bob last year. Just in the last three years and even before that, a great calibre of winner.
'I remember looking at the leaderboard on Sunday morning last year and it was just an international who's who of golf. Adam Scott up there, golfers from Korea, from the US and then, ultimately from that pool, emerged Bob.
'Not just winning his national Open, but who he beat to win that title, he'll possibly reflect on that in the years to come and say: Wow that was a hugely important win on many fronts. Tom Kim, Ben An, Sungjae Im, and others have come over and developed an appreciation for links golf and played very well in the tournament. There's certainly a handful of great golfers who could win this year.
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"There's a great sense of partnership and collaboration between the key stakeholders. You have the co-sanctioning between the DP World Tour and PGA Tour and that's hugely significant for the field. You've got a great host venue in the Renaissance Club and the Sarvadi family and everything they invest to host the tournament.
'You've got Visit Scotland who are backing these important events here in Scotland, their support for the Genesis Scottish Open is critical and then, of course, Genesis. It's a pleasure to be a part of the tournament as the title sponsor and to watch first hand, alongside the other key stakeholders, just how we've been able to collectively take the tournament to new heights.
'We'd like to think we've brought a real focus on hospitality and how we look after everyone, players, caddies, their families, fans, spectators, obviously the guests we host from around the world and create a welcoming tournament atmosphere and environment, which of course sits the week before the Open, which is also a key element.
'So, I think, all in all, that summarises where we feel we're at as we look ahead to this year's Genesis Scottish Open, and with room to continue to elevate the tournament in the years to come.'
Genesis is the title sponsor of the Genesis Scottish Open, the first ever co-sanctioned event by DP World Tour and the PGA Tour. For more information visit www.genesis.com