AUSTIN POWERS
Bob hopes his Texas gunslinging fires him into the Ryder Cup team
BOB MacINTYRE admits he’s still scrapping to earn his Stars and Stripes on the PGA Tour.
But the Scots knows a gunslinging week in Texas at The WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play can help shoot him towards the Ryder Cup.
Before that MacIntyre also hopes to clinch another chance meeting with 1988 Masters Champion Sandy Lyle at Augusta when the year’s first Major tees-off next month.
The 24-year-old is part of a star-studded 64-player field this week. After the Workday Championship, the Arnold Palmer at Bay Hill and The Players Championship at Sawgrass, it’s on to Austin as the education and hard work continues to stamp his mark on the States.
MacIntyre hopes the match play format he’s enjoyed during his early career will suit after drawing Kevin Na in tomorrow’s first round in Group 1 which also includes top-seed Dustin Johnson and Adam Long.
He said: “Everyone on the planet wants a PGA Tour card, so you can play on the big events on both sides of the Atlantic. It takes a bit of time getting used to being out here. It’s not plain sailing.
“There’s a comfort level back home in Europe and, because I got comfortable pretty quickly, I had some good results. Out here I’ve yet to throw in a class result. Until that happens I feel like I’ve got my Stars and Stripes to earn.
“I have to be playing at the highest standard to compete. I’ve played three courses now where you can’t just fake it round. Finishing where I did at Bay Hill was actually a steal, given how I was playing.
“It’s been a difficult three weeks but I’ve put in the hard work and, having played on Sunday, the difference is night and day. I haven’t played my best but I know that when I do the results will come.
“You can’t have it easy all the time and I wasn’t trying to just settle. I’m trying to jump into the deep end and swim.”
European captain Padraig Harrington will be keeping a close eye on MacIntyre’s form in the Match Play event with the Ryder Cup looming in the autumn at Whistling Straits.
MacIntyre added: “I’m sure they know all about my match play record from the amateurs. I feel like whatever Padraig does with his selection, I can’t control that. I’m only able to control what me and the team around me do.
“I feel like we’re doing the right things. If we have one good week it can snowball into another great season.
“I can’t wait for this. This is right down my alley. Playing against the best players in the world, anything can happen.
“But it’s not as if you’ve got to beat the 72 or 74 guys. I don’t have to beat the whole field. I just have to beat them one at a time. There’s no guide, no plan, just be aggressive.
“If I hit form, why can’t I put in a good week?”
MacIntyre is 44th in the official World Golf rankings and a Top 50 slot by tournament’s end in Texas will secure a spot at next month’s Masters.
It’s a golden prize but he said:
“Until the invitation drops through the door I’ll not be at Augusta. If I play good golf, the rest takes care of itself. I’ve not worried about it for some time, so why start now?”
If he gets to Augusta he’ll be another Scot walking the hallowed Georgian turf where Lyle triumphed 33 years ago.
The pair had a chance meeting and practice at Sawgrass after MacIntyre missed the cut at The Players.
He said: “I turned up at the range and I’m looking at this guy thinking, ‘Jeez, that guy looks a good player.’
“Then I saw the Saltire on the shoe and thought, ‘Hang on, is that Sandy Lyle?’ We spoke a bit. He was such a nice guy, gave me the time of day, chatted away to me.”
Asked about another reunion at Augusta, MacIntyre smiled and said: “That’s a big if. But it would be great.”