The popular celebrity event played on three famous Scottish links, headed by St Andrews, had to be shortened to 54-holes because of high winds on the penultimate day, but Scot MacIntyre prevailed brilliantly at the 'home of golf' Old Course on Sunday,
"Just a beautiful ending to a good week," MacIntyre declared after shooting a third straight six-under 66, following up his equally good rounds at Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.
It ensured the world No.9 romped to victory by four shots on 18 under par, just a week after he'd helped the European team win the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, where MacIntyre had been roundly abused by the hostile New York crowds.
Back where he's much more loved on Sunday, though, the left-hander enjoyed a much more reverential following, while admitting that he hadn't exactly enjoyed the best preparation this week.
"I had a laugh when we were driving the buggy back down to the clubhouse," he said.
"I've done everything against the book this week in terms of preparation, pitching up only on Wednesday afternoon. I know the golf courses. Played 12 holes on Wednesday.
"The diet has not been good this week too — I can confirm that. I've eaten plenty of takeaways, fish and chips, plenty of others. But sometimes when you are least expecting it, things happen!"
Crowe, a 23-year-old NSW pro, evidently felt the same as he teamed up with his Irish amateur partner Cian Foley, son-in-law of the Irish billionaire racehorse owner and businessman JP McManus, to between them shoot a final-round 63 at Carnoustie for a four-round total of 33 under and a one-shot win.
The win earned Crowe $US50,000 ($A76,000) in prize money as the professional in the winning team, even if that was pocket change next to the $US816,000 ($A1.2 million) MacIntyre won for taking the individual title.
Crowe, a former amateur star himself who's won twice as a pro, wasn't complaining as he smiled: "We teamed up brilliantly. I played very well on the first day and Cian came in strongly in the second round. It's been a lot of fun."
Matt Jones was the leading Australian, tied for 40th, in the individual event on seven under after his final-round 69 at Carnoustie, with Crowe finishing at four under alongside Cam Smith, who had an enjoyable day on Sunday returning to play the Old Course for the first time since winning the British Open there.
Even if his performance didn't match the brilliance of that final round of 64 in 2022 in the 150th Open, Smith still did well in the high winds to come home under par with a two-under 70.
Defending champion Tyrrell Hatton, another member of Team Europe, shot 65 at St. Andrews and jumped into second place overall — one stroke better than John Parry (66 at St. Andrews) and Richard Sterne (71 at Carnoustie).
Among the celebrities who'd braved the tough conditions in the pro-am were Hollywood stars Bill Murray, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, while there was sporting royalty too in the shape of hockey great Wayne Gretzky.
