I’m going flat out for glory
Bob buys his own pad as he says: I’ve grown up on the course now I’ll do the same off it
BOB MACINTYRE is growing up on the golf course. Now he admits he needs to take the next steps off it.
And the Scottish star hopes grabbing the keys to a new flat will help him unlock more of his potential.
MacIntyre wants to be the best. He wants to progress from precocious talent to serial winner. Now 24, the Oban ace is prepared to make ruthless decisions to achieve his goals.
The axing of long-term caddy and pal Greg Milne prior to last week’s ASI Scottish Open proved his cut-throat approach.
MacIntyre knows the changes he needs to make to his game but also his life as he aims to vault up the game’s ladder.
Family is hugely important to him and his loved ones have been right at his side every step of the way.
But at this point, MacIntyre wants to start doing more things for himself. To this end, it’s time to fly the nest.
The youngster is moving into his own place in his beloved hometown and said: “Aye. It’s my first home.
“My mum and sisters were in there giving it a wee clean. I don’t know when I will move in as I’ve got to purchase a few new things. It was time to grow up. Now’s the right time.
“It’s a flat in a nice area, right on the beach. I love the seaside.
“I’ll be looking after myself. When I move in, I’m sure my mother will be round checking up on me but it’s time to grow.
“I’ve taken a few steps in that respect over the last few years and the next one was getting my own place, paying the bills and learning to live.
“I’m all right at cooking but I am sure I will need to learn a few more tricks.”
MacIntyre managed to squeeze the last bit out of being at the folks’ by taking his suitcase of laundry from the Renaissance back to the parents’ house for washing. But he said: “Once I get into the flat, I will start doing things myself.
“I need to grow up. I’m 24 now. I need to take the next steps in life.”
MacIntyre’s moves on and off the course suggest he’s determined to get it right sooner rather than later.
Recapturing top form after winning the European Tour Rookie of The Year Award in 2019 has not been easy.
Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdown didn’t help. Neither did injury issues that hindered him at the start of the year.
But MacIntyre is moving in the right direction and his display at the Renaissance indicates he’s on the right path with three final rounds of 67, 68 and 69 all impressive.
The Scot finished in the top 20 at the Scottish Open and heads into the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth tomorrow full of belief that things can keep moving in the right manner.
MacIntyre said: “My misses last year, especially in the rain, were so big as there was less spin whereas now I feel I have the driver under full control with nice little draws.
“In the rain (at Renaissance), I was worried with the driver in my hand but I hit a nice one down the first and it was kind of cruise control from there.
“It was my first time at
Wentworth last year and if you drive it well round there, you will play good. I’ve just got to trust what I am doing.
“Me and (coach) Davey (Burns) have worked hard over the last two months.
“It was a wee bit slack at the start but now we are starting to enjoy ourselves and once you start enjoying something, you put in more effort and that’s starting to show.
“When I first came back, I was fed up and wasn’t enjoying what I was doing.
“You could ask Greg (Milne), I was probably nippier than I have ever been. But I feel as if I’m back to where I should be on the golf course and enjoying myself.”
Milne’s replacement Mikey Thomson had a good first week on the job and stays on the bag for Wentworth.
MacIntyre said: “Mikey has been brilliant. It’s just trust, which is huge. He’s backing me to hit shots that I know I can hit and he knows I can hit.
“It’s about him being sure if I’m not sure. Even if he’s not 100 per cent, it’s about him making me feel this is the shot. It’s about being fully committed.”