STICK WITH IT BOB MAC
Shane tells pal never give up on American dream
Bob just needs to be patient with his career. He has done a lot already
SHANE LOWRY GIVES SCOTS STAR SOME ADVICE
FORMER Open champion Shane Lowry has urged Bob MacIntyre to never give up as the Scottish star finds his feet on the PGA Tour.
MacIntyre is the lone Scot in this week’s Valspar Championship on a Copperhead course that boasts a closing three-hole stretch known as the ‘Snake Pit’ on Florida’s west coast. The £6.6million event is MacIntye’s ninth in his rookie PGA Tour season and he has missed the cut in four tournaments so far, including last week’s Players Championship.
MacIntyre’s best finish was a share of sixth at the Mexican Open last month and his world ranking has dropped from 56 to 74 since securing his Tour card.
The Oban lefty only has the next two weeks to get himself into the top 50 if he’s to tee up on April 11 at the US Masters.
But Lowry has told the Scot, 27, to keep his head up because he knows how tough it is to make a big impact in America.
The man from County Offaly brought Ireland to a standstill when he won the 2019 Open at Royal Portrush.
But Lowry, now 36, has claimed just one victory since then – the 2022 BMW Championship.
His form has improved in recent weeks though and the Irishman has been in contention again.
Lowry was MacIntrye’s team-mate at the Ryder Cup in Rome last year so he knows how much talent the young Scot possesses.
And he has told his pal to stay patient, admitting MacIntrye’s debut campaign on the PGA Tour has brought back memories of his own.
Lowry said: “I see Bob all the time. I saw him and Shannon (MacIntyre’s girlfriend) at Sawgrass last week.
“Bob has probably not played the golf he wanted but it’s not easy over here. I found that when I came over in my first couple of years but you’ve just got to stick with it and work your socks off.
“Bob just needs to be patient with his career. I see a lot of myself in Bob, when I was his age and at the stage of his career.
“He needs to keep doing what he’s doing as he’s doing all the right things. He has already played the Ryder Cup and done a lot in the game. He just needs to believe in himself and will kick on from there.”
Only two British players have ever won the Valspar Championship, Paul Casey (2018 and 2019) and Luke Donald (2012).
And MacIntrye is flying the Saltire alone after Russell Knox missed out in qualifying.
Lowry is over in the Far East, competing for the DP World Tour Porsche Singapore Classic.
No Asian Tour players are taking part, including David Drysdale.
But plenty of Scottish stars are in the Singapore field with Richie Ramsay, Ewen Ferguson, Grant Forrest, David Law, Scott Jamieson, Calum Hill and Stephen Gallacher all there.