Casey edges out MacIntyre to claim first win in five years

Robert MacIntyre was forced to settle for his third second-place finish of season after Paul Casey claimed his first European Tour title in five years at the Porsche European Open in Hamburg yesterday.

The Oban golfer, who finished runner-up at the Made in Denmark and British Masters, was four shots clear at the top of the leaderboard at the halfway stage but rounds of 74 and 68 over the weekend meant he finished one shot shy of Casey’s 14-under total.

The left-hander banked £135,000 for finishing tied second alongside German Bernd Ritthammer and Austrian Matthias Schwab and is expected to move into the world’s top 100 for the first time when the rankings are confirmed today.

While his wait for victory on his remarkable rookie season continues, MacIntyre enjoyed being in contention at the business end of the competition once again.

He said: “It’s been brilliant. Obviously disappointed in the end, but if someone had given me that in the last round I thought it would have been enough, but it just wasn’t to be.”

Casey was joined by Austrian Bernd Wiesberger and overnight leaders MacIntyre and Ritthammer at 12 under par with three holes remaining during an enthralling finale at Green Eagle Golf Courses.

And Casey’s experience came to the fore after a stunning birdie putt from 35ft at the 16th proved to be the turning point as he carded a birdie-birdie-par finish to claim his 14th European Tour victory in Hamburg – his first since the KLM Open in 2014.

Casey dedicated the trophy to former winner Gordon Brand Jr following his death at the age of 60 last month.