A member of the Renaissance Club captured one of the best videos ever taken at a golf event in 2023.
Teenager Louis Pargeter, who’s belonged to the club since 2011 and lived by it for several years, arrived on the Tuesday of the Genesis Scottish Open, but it was on the Sunday of that week when he whipped his phone out to film Rory McIlroy’s approach to 18, the 72nd hole with the title on the line.
With Robert MacIntyre in the Renaissance clubhouse tied with McIlroy on 14-under-par, having performed heroics of his own with an incredible birdie from a treacherous position off the tee, the moment came to McIlroy who produced a shot so good with his 2 iron that there is now a plaque in the fairway where he struck it.
Members are allowed access to the clubhouse and the halfway house at the Renaissance Club when this most special week rolls around shortly before The Open Championship, which will be held at Royal Portrush this year.
But instead of utilising these privileges on the final day of the tournament, Louis and his pals adopted the tactics of camping out in the 18th grandstand for hours before the leaders arrived, behind the green of this challenging par-4 which was made even tougher by the blustery conditions in East Lothian.
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That Rory McIlroy 2 iron video that went viral…
“I was in the grandstand,” Louis said to NCG. “Me and my friends got in the grandstand about six hours before, and sat there all day waiting for Rory to come down the last hole.”
“I just pressed record and I managed to track the ball flight the whole way and I was quite impressed with myself after doing that!”
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Sky Sports might have prestige, technology and the endless angles required to cover the biggest golf tournaments in the world, but Louis trounced any shot tracer the broadcasting behemoth could’ve conjured by incredibly tracking McIlroy’s stinger as it cut through the gales and floated towards the pin.
“I got a lot of comments on my video saying it was better than the TV coverage,” Louis said, immediately attracting plaudits from the audience that took notice of the clip.
“I posted it on TikTok and after about three hours, it had 100,000 views and now, it’s on 1.1 million.”
There is hardly anything golf fans enjoy more than a satisfying ball flight video from the hands of one of their favourites, but what McIlroy performed and what Louis produced through his lens was something quite special.
To the anguish of MacIntyre and the Scottish fans circling the green, Mcllroy holed the birdie putt to card a 68 and win the tournament in what was a finish to remember.
Like McIlroy and MacIntyre, Louis, who reached 2.6 handicap himself, having only played golf for three years, will no doubt be back for more in years to come.
MacIntyre certianly showed his hunger when finally winning the Scottish Open in 2024, with a memorable winning putt on the final hole.
If you’re planning on sitting in the grandstand at the back 18, keep your head still while this master cameraman is at work.
You can follow Louis on Tiktok (louis.pargeter) and Instagram (@louis.parge.golf)
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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
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