MacIntyre beats Fitzpatrick in playoff to capture Italian Open

GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy (AP) — Bob MacIntyre might have just played his way onto Europe’s Ryder Cup team.

The Scot beat U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick on the first hole of a playoff to win the Italian Open on the Marco Simone course outside Rome that will host next year’s event against the United States.

“This is what I want. This is my only goal for the season -- to make that Ryder Cup team,” MacIntyre said. “I think I’ve made a good start.”

Ryder Cup qualification points for Europe’s team started being awarded last week at Wentworth.

It was only the second victory of the 26-year-old MacIntyre’s career but it came against a quality field that included European tour leader Rory McIlroy, who finished fourth after hitting his tee shot on the drivable 16th into the water.

MacIntyre posted a 7-under 64 for the best finishing round Sunday and finished regulation tied at 14 under (270) with Fitzpatrick, who won his first major title at Brookline, Mass., in June.

In the playoff on the 18th hole, MacIntyre sunk a birdie putt from a few feet to clinch it after Fitzpatrick had gotten into trouble by driving into the rough.

“This means everything,” MacIntyre said. “I was down and out two or three months ago. I didn’t know what I was doing. Didn’t know where to go. But I spoke to the right people and there’s so much hard work gone into this.”

Victor Perez of France finished third, one stroke behind, after missing a birdie putt on 18; and McIlroy ended up two strokes back.

Europe captain Luke Donald, who finished tied for 34th, was quick to praise MacIntyre.

“Massive congratulations,” Donald tweeted. “Showed a lot of guts and resolve in the playoff to get it done.”

“I played with Bob last week in Wentworth,” Donald told The