Bob Masters art of putting for Kenya tilt
Bob MacIntyre teed up a final-day charge at a third DP World Tour title – and potentially left the door ajar to the Masters.
The Scot posted a sixunder 65 at the Kenya Open in Nairobi to sit second, one shot behind Spaniard Jorge Campillo (63) who leads on 13 under.
Heading out in today’s final group, it’s predicted a win would lift MacIntyre to world No.63 with a fortnight until the cut-off point of being inside the top 50 for an invitation to Augusta National.
Not having entered the next two DP World events in South Africa, he could wangle his way into the WGC Dell Match-Play Championship in which he halved a showdown with then world No.1 Dustin Johnson in 2021.
A decent finish in Texas could boost his Major hopes, albeit there is plenty of golf to be played between now and then.
MacIntyre capped his round with a 15-footer for eagle on the par-five 10th.
Then on the last, the 26-year-old smoked a 380-yard drive and found a gap in branches from an overhanging tree as his ball hit the hole, stopping behind the flag for a simple two-putt for birdie.
He said: “It was again a good day’s work. The game is great and after the putter was holding me back, I’m now seeing the ball go in. The game’s in good shape. I’m feeling really comfortable over my putts just now.”
Stateside, Rory McIlroy missed the cut by three shots after the stormaffected second round of the Players Championship came to an end yesterday.
The Northern Irishman followed a miserable 76 with a one-over 73 and said: “It was just very blah.
“I guess the course, you just have to be really on it to play well here. If you’re a little off, it definitely magnifies where you are off. It’s a bit of an enigma.
“Some years I come here and it feels easier than others.”
It’s the first time he’s missed the cut since failing to make the weekend at the FedEx St Jude Championship last August.