Bob MacIntyre left North Berwick last Sunday in a mood that could kindly be called volcanic. His defence of The Genesis Scottish Open title, won with such joy in 2024, had ended miserably.
He described his game as ‘horrific’ , and five words spun around his mind during a torturous back nine: get me out of here.
In the end, he finished 17 shots off the pace at The Renaissance, but his personal disgust was obvious. There was no point trying to engage in small talk, and those close to MacIntyre knew full well not to attempt to offer any words of consolation as the fury fizzed within.
Losing is part of a golfer’s life. In many ways, they are similar to jockeys in that the good days, those moments in the sun, must be embraced. How they deal with the losses, though, is intriguing and MacIntyre was only too happy to provide a window into his world.
‘I can do whatever I want for an hour,’ he explained. ‘Just anything I want.’
It begged the obvious question: like what?
Robert MacIntyre reacts to a bad shot at last year’s Open Championship at Royal Troon
MacIntyre looks a little happier as he prepares for this year’s tournament at Royal Portrush
The Scottish star gets himself reacquainted with Portrush during a practice round on Tuesday
‘You can break things,’ he said with a smile that left you wondering whether he was serious. ‘I can literally do whatever I want for an hour. After that hour is gone, my job’s done. For an hour and a half before my round, two hours before my round, I’m preparing – so nobody gets in my way.
‘It’s warm-up, stretching, gym work, all of that. So there’s a seven or eight-hour window when I’m working. If you have a bad day at work, you’ll be annoyed, won’t you? It’s been difficult in the past to reset but, nowadays, there’s so many tournaments you don’t know what’s coming the next week.’
Hopeful for happier times at The Open at Royal Portrush this week, the 28-year-old Scot said: ‘Actually, I thought Saturday, Sunday, I played better than I did Thursday, Friday. The scores didn’t show that, but I wasn’t in the thick of it, so there was no buzz for me. Sunday just wasn’t a good day, but I’m here this week – and I’m as ready as I can be.’
This exchange was all good natured, his audience laughing at times. Some might not like the idea he is so combustible behind-closed-doors but, equally, would he be the player he is – one with genuine potential of becoming a Major winner – without that flame burning within?
‘I’m fiery on the golf course when I’m in tournament rounds,’ he agreed. ‘I’ll drop a few bad words in there. I’ll hit the bag. I’ll say some harsh things, but that’s what gets me going. If I walk around and I’m all happy I just made a double bogey or people are clapping, thanks very much, that’s not me.
‘I’m needing to smash something up. I want to rip a glove. I do something to get that anger out. It’s better out than in for me. Some people, it’s better for them holding it in. But, for me, it’s get it out and then just do not let it affect the next shot. Simple.’
If only that word applied to negotiating the four days when the Claret Jug is on the line. Conditions will be more suitable for MacIntyre and there is no doubt how much he enjoys these surrounds. This after all, is the place he made his Major debut in 2019 and finished sixth.
Six years have flashed past in the blink of an eye. In the time since, he’s won three times on the European Tour, played in the Ryder Cup and gone heartbreakingly close to winning the US Open. But you could just sense what it would mean to join the giants on this causeway.
MacIntyre admits it was tough making his Open debut at Portrush back in 2019
The Scot gets a feel for Portrush after a practice round on the course on Tuesday
Robert MacIntyre takes a quick break during his practice round in Northern Ireland
‘It was tough, standing on that first tee in 2019, with those nerves,’ recalled MacIntyre ‘You’ve always dreamed to play in these competitions. You’ve watched The Open on TV since you were a young kid – and there I was, I’d got to just live another dream.
‘Yeah, it was difficult, but I got a little bit lucky when I managed to finish in just the proper time when the storm came in. I remember sitting in the players’ dining area and it just kept blowing. I thought the roof was coming off the place.
‘Then I was just like: “Keep coming, keep coming!” I was just watching it, watching me get further up the leaderboard. It’s a different week this week. I’m going to go out there and enjoy playing Royal Portrush again and give it my absolute best. That’s all I can guarantee.’
Play like he did at Oakmont and there is no reason why he can’t be in the mix again. He took defeat to JJ Spaun with outstanding grace and there was no sense of ‘what if’ as he reflected on it. All he did was strengthen the suspicion that his turn might not be far away.
‘I thought it was an absolutely brilliant effort,’ said MacIntyre, who played 18 holes yesterday. ‘When I finished, I thought: “If someone beats that, fair play”. JJ played better during the week. But that’s as good a performance as I can put in a round on probably the hardest golf course on the planet.
‘I’m going to prepare the same as I’ve tried to every week. I’m going to try and win The Open.’
