TROON, Scotland — You might soon find a golfer who would rather win a tournament worse than the British Open than one who welcomes shank week. Until you find Bob McIntyre.
O McIntyre, 27, from Oban in the Scottish Highlands, is due to play in the British Open at Royal Troon this week.
And, of course, he wants to win the final major championship of the year.
But even if he does lift the Claret Jug at Troon on Sunday, he’s unlikely to surpass what he achieved on Sunday in the Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club on the other side of Scotland.
This is his U.S. Open, a tournament he’s been playing since his father took him along the fairways as a kid.
MacIntyre was on the British Open media schedule for pre-tournament interviews at 3 p.m. on Monday, but it was as unlikely that he would be in that interview room as it was that Tiger Woods would be joining LIV Golf before the end of the business day on Tuesday.
With the approval of tournament officials, MacIntyre postponed his news conference until Wednesday, and Woods is not currently being lured by $1 billion, or whatever the offer may be, to tour Saudi Arabia.
“How do I get out of this?” MacIntyre asked rhetorically on Sunday, with the Scottish Open trophy beside him. “I don’t think I can get out of it. I’m just going to try and ride the wave. I don’t think I’ll be in good enough shape to get to Troon. I don’t think I’ll be legally able to drive.”
McIntyre, who had his Scottish Open title snatched from him on the 72nd hole last year after Rory McIlroy birdied the final two holes and hit one of the best shots of his life on the final hole to win, promised to “celebrate like crazy” this time around.
This time, the Scotsman effectively stole the tournament from Adam Scott, who shared the clubhouse lead with McIntyre playing the 18th hole and sinking a 20-foot birdie putt to win. McIntyre played the final five holes in four under par to claim the biggest win of his career.
So, what about an encore?
“When I hit the ball on Thursday [for the first round of the Open]”No matter when I tee off, I’m going to try to win,” MacIntyre said.[But] There may still be some alcohol in my system. Good times should be celebrated. They don’t happen often and this was one I wanted.
“I’m going to celebrate this win with my family, my friends, everybody,” he continued. “When I play in the Open, I’m going to play in the British Open.”
It’s been a tough year for MacIntyre, who went from relative unknown to winning multiple tournaments and becoming a member of Europe’s 2023 Ryder Cup winning team.
Pending the results of a breathalyzer test before Thursday’s opening round, MacIntyre will be considered one of the favorites to win this week.
Before his Scottish Open triumph, MacIntyre won the Canadian Open after an emotional week that included being caddied by his father, Dougie, a greenskeeper at a small course in Oban.
There were many tears shed by both McIntyre fighters at the end of that tournament.
“Winning in Canada was really emotional because it was my first PGA Tour win and my dad was my caddie,” McIntyre said. “I never thought it would happen.”
And then last week came.
“This win is one that I wanted,” he said. “I came close last year, but I had a chance here and I kept telling myself, ‘I’m just gonna take the chance,’ and I took the chance. It’s unbelievable. Last year was heartbreaking, but this year it means everything. I’ve seen this. [tournament] It meant a lot to me as a kid, it was the only movie I could really go see.
“This is something I said I wanted at some point in my career… and I got it.”
