OAKMONT, Pa. — Robert MacIntyre nearly matched the biggest final-round comeback in U.S. Open history.
Instead, he had to settle for sole possession of second place, but on a day when so many contenders — including the winner — had their problems, MacIntyre handled both Oakmont Country Club and the weather with aplomb.
MacIntyre shot a 2-under-par 68 on Sunday to finish the 72-hole tournament at 1-over 281 — two strokes behind first-time major champion J.J. Spaun. MacIntyre was seven strokes back of leader Sam Burns at the beginning of the day. He actually made up 10 shots on Burns but couldn’t outlast Spaun.
“I think when I was walking up 14 or 12, and I seen a leaderboard that the leader was at even par. I kind of knew where I was at, I was at 3 over, I think, at the time,” MacIntyre said. “The whole week, I’ve said level par in my head. I’m just looking for four even pars. Almost got there, but not quite.”
As MacIntyre spoke, Spaun was still out on the course. A playoff — or even an outright victory for MacIntyre — was still possible. When Spaun rolled in his majestic birdie putt on 18 to finish at 1 under, camera footage showed MacIntyre clapping.