MacIntyre two behind leader at Porsche Open

Robert MacIntyre has his sights firmly set on more success after an opening 68 left him just two shots off the lead in the Porsche European Open in Hamburg.

The Scot’s brilliant debut season on the European Tour has already produced back-to-back runners-up finishes and a tie for sixth in the Open at Royal Portrush.

The 23-year-old from Oban is in joint third place behind Ryder Cup star Paul Casey, who overcame illness and tough conditions to claim the lead after the first round.

MacIntyre said: “I’m pushing to try to get into the WGC event (in China in November) and I think I might have secured the final three (European Tour events) already and if you do well in those, then that opens bigger doors so it’s just about taking it step by step, week by week and see where we end up.”

Casey carded seven birdies and a single bogey in an opening 66 at Green Eagle Golf Course, despite strong winds making the 7,500yard layout even tougher than usual.

On six under par the world number 17 holds a one-shot lead over Austria’s Matthias Schwab, with MacIntyre, Englishman Ben Stow and Germany’s Max Rottluff all on four under.

Former Masters champion Patrick Reed had to birdie the last three holes to shoot a two-overpar 74, while world number nine Xander Schauffele was one shot better off despite dropping three shots in his last eight holes.

l Dustin Johnson has undergone surgery to repair cartilage damage in his left knee.

The former world number one, who has slipped to third in the rankings after a poor finish to the PGA Tour season, underwent an arthroscopic procedure in Florida yesterday.

Robert MacIntyre: two back.