Robert MacIntyre couldn’t quite match the tie for sixth he managed on his Open debut at Royal Portrush in 2019, but the Scot still feels it’s just ‘a matter of time’ before he lands his first major.
The moment he was craving to attack the Northern Irish course in a final-day title bid was, in truth, never really going to materialise when eventual champion Scottie Scheffler was so far ahead of the chasing pack from Saturday onwards.
However, off the back of his runner-up finish at last month’s US Open at Oakmont, MacIntyre saw enough in his game these last few days to suggest that he is not far away from lifting one of the game’s big prizes.
MacIntyre certainly seems to be nearing the consistency on the big stages that could see him become the first Scot to win a major since Paul Lawrie’s Open triumph at Carnoustie in 1999.
‘I just had to keep saying to myself, “Stay patient, there’s a good finish there if you can stay calm”,’ said the 28-year-old, whose closing 67 saw him tie seventh with home favourite Rory McIlroy and last year’s Open champion Xander Schauffele.
‘There’s certain holes this week that were vital, and I played them poorly. But I’m finishing top 10 in a major and being frustrated with certain parts of my game.
Bob MacIntyre acknowledges the crowd after a closing 67 that left him in a tie for seventh place
MacIntyre says he has what it takes to become Scotland’s first major winner since 1999
The Oban golfer’s performance at The Open showed again that he can handle the big stage
‘Things are good and I’ve just got to wait my turn.
‘I know I’ve got the game. I feel like it’s a matter of time, if I just keep piecing it all together.
‘It’s been a great performance and a good result, but it’s another reassurance that I’m in the right place.’
He admitted after Saturday’s third round that he would need a ‘hot start’ to make an impression at the top of the leaderboard.
While that didn’t quite materialise, four birdies in his final seven holes — including consecutive gains at 14 and 15 — were further evidence that he doesn’t lack the confidence or prowess to challenge at the very top of the sport.
The Oban left-hander made a promising enough start with a birdie at the par-five second after his long eagle putt stopped tantalisingly short of the hole.
However, he immediately handed back that advantage with a bogey on the par-four fifth.
‘Stupid’, was MacIntyre’s brutal assessment of that aberration, which effectively halted him in his tracks until another birdie at seven.
By the time he found the momentum he was looking for, it was ultimately too little too late.
There were gains at 12 and 14, the latter when a low chip scuttled all the way into the cup.
That hoisted him back to the upper reaches of the leaderboard, and some of the exciting promise he had shown over the last four days was fulfilled as he recorded further birdies at 15 and 17.
Certainly, finishing alongside McIlroy and Schauffele on the minus 10 mark was no disgrace, albeit the trio found themselves seven strokes behind first-time Open champion Scheffler.
Wyndham Clark, Matt Fitzpatrick and Haotong Li were a shot ahead of MacIntyre in a tie for fourth, while Harris English finished runner-up and Scottish Open champion Chris Gotterup was third.
