Robert MacIntyre feeling “dangerous,” ballin’ at PGA Tour opposite field event

Robert McIntyre, who was the star of Europe’s Ryder Cup teams this fall, finally seems comfortable on the PGA Tour.

McIntyre earlier this week called the tour a “lonely place,” adding that the camaraderie found on the Europe-based DP World Tour is less than that on the PGA Tour.

But based on his previous play at the Myrtle Beach Classic, no one would have known that McIntyre felt that way.

“I think it was really good. I think it’s hard to back up a good round [like I had on Thursday]” McIntyre explained.

“I felt like I did really well. The front nine was really perfect golf. I missed some chances. But if you keep giving yourself too many chances, you’re going to take some.” Overall it was a good round today, it was a good round. [Thursday]”

The Scot started with a seven-under 64 and followed that up with a four-under 67 on Friday. Also, his putter has caught fire, and he is now at the top in total strokes gained.

When McIntyre left the course after his round, the left-hander held the sole lead at 11 under, an unfamiliar position for him.

But unfamiliarity has been a theme in McIntyre’s experience playing in the United States.

“I’m from a small town on the west coast of Scotland. There are a lot of people who never leave Oban. They go on holidays and such, but they were born there, worked there and ultimately died there. My family and all their friends are there. They’ll probably be there all the time,” McIntyre explained.

“It’s really hard for my girlfriend and I to come here. We’re trying to make this our home and it’s hard without family connections. We’re trying our best, but we don’t have family. It’s completely different from life.”

McIntyre went on to explain that he and his girlfriend rent a home in the Orlando area and use the “incredible” facilities at Isleworth Golf Club to practice.

But he still feels emptiness inside.

“I thought moving to the United States was the only way to realize my golf dreams,” McIntyre added.

“I don’t know if that’s the answer. I feel like a happy Bob McIntyre is a dangerous Bob McIntyre on the golf course, and home life makes me happy. That’s why I… I’ll probably go home after the next few events. I’ll go back to Scotland instead of going to Orlando.”

Photo credit: Octavio Passos/Getty Images

Last year, McIntyre had his best performance while playing on home soil and almost won the Genesis Scottish Open. McIntyre might have emerged as the local champion had Rory McIlroy not birdied the final two holes.

Since then, he has scored 2.5 out of 3 points at the Ryder Cup and recorded four top-10 finishes, including a tie for sixth at this year’s Mexican Open, his best this season. The results were as follows. McIntyre played well despite feeling lonely and homesick.

But the Scot believes he made the easy decision to play on the PGA Tour.

“It wasn’t a difficult decision. World ranking points, financial benefits, and practice facilities only benefit me by playing good golf,” McIntyre added.

“I can always go back to the European Tour. There’s obviously a grace period with the 10 cards I got this year and the cards I played in the Ryder Cup are obviously in my pocket. I’m comfortable. I’m the best in the world. I’m just trying to be one of those players. I don’t know what my limits are in golf. I don’t know where my limits are. I just want to accept the score I got and try harder. I just try my best every day.”

Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through.Be sure to check it out @_PlayingThrough Cover more golf. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko In the same way.