Macintyre is paving the way for Scots players

Bob Macintyre’s American adventure did not begin with quite the flourish he had presumably hoped for.

Missed cuts at the American Express Tournament, Farmers Insurance Open and Phoenix Open were only partially offset by a tied 52nd finish at the Sony Open in January.

But the 27-year-old from Oban hinted at a return to form when he claimed a share of sixth spot at the recent Mexico Open.

Not that Macintyre is focusing purely on results after stressing his venture is a work in progress.

Having taken advice from Us-based Ryder Cup team-mates about how best to live life in the States, Macintyre plumped for a Florida base. There are several advantages, not least the weather.

Instead of trying to find practise facilities in the snow and frost of home, he is rapidly becoming used to T-shirt conditions in the Sunshine State.

While not a stranger to the PGA Tour, his decision to commit to a much fuller schedule means he may not return to the DP World Tour until his home Open at the Renaissance Club in July.

Runner-up to Rory Mcilroy at the Scottish Open last year, Macintyre enjoys dual membership of the tours after securing his PGA card by finishing 13th overall in last season’s DP World Tour rankings.

While the home-loving Macintyre’s life has changed, he is adamant he has no plans to undergo a personality makeover.

“Bob Macintyre won’t change,” he assured one broadcaster. “He is going to be the same guy and I will still live life the same way.”

It would appear Macintyre is on a mission of sorts similar to a trial run to determine what is best for him in the long term.

Any doubts that may have lingered about his ability to fulfil the glittering potential highlighted by his sixth place at the 2019 Open Championship and a share of 12th at The Masters two years later, were surely removed once and for all when he qualified for the Ryder Cup team.

He had shown he has the temperament and mindset to compete at the highest level by winning the Italian

Open in 2022 in a play-off against Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick.

Although currently outside the world top 50 who qualify automatically for Augusta, Macintyre has until early April to book a Masters spot.

But regardless of how his American adventure pans out, Macintyre has already done much to inject new purpose and belief in Scotland’s golfers.

Although his Italian Open triumph was the last by a Scot on the DP World Tour, there is no shortage of contenders clearly boosted by Macintyre’s progress.

Fife’s Connor Syme has yet to record a maiden win, but the signs are encouraging.

Back-to-back top tens at the Kenya Open and the SDC Championship, in South Africa, where he shared seventh and fourth place highlighted a rich vein of form.

Glasgow’s Ewen Ferguson also continues to threaten to build on his remarkable debut season in 2022 when he won the Qatar Masters and ISPS Handa World invitational.

Ferguson failed to replicate that success last season, but a share of 11th at the Dubai Invitational, ninth in Qatar and a joint seventh finish in Kenya confirm the 27-year-old remains highly competitive.

Grant Forrest tied fourth at the Australian Open to offer hope he can add to his maiden success at the Hero Open in 2021 while Calum Hill has been steady rather than spectacular.

And while Scott Jamieson has yet to add to his single tour win at the Nelson Mandela Championship 12 years ago, his closing 65 at the Qatar Masters to finish third hints at a possible resurgence at the age of 40.

Meanwhile, Glaswegian exile Martin Laird’s equal ninth at the Cognizant Classic suggests the 41-year-old is capable of adding to his four PGA Tour titles.

BIG MOVE: Scotland’s Bob Macintyre is still trying to find his feet on the PGA Tour.

Glaswegian Ewen Ferguson and North Berwick-based Grant Forrest are on the rise.