MacINTYRE IS LIVING THE DREAM
Now his mindset is focused on making a serious challenge for Augusta glory
THERE is an unalloyed joy to be found on a golf course late on a summer night. Bathed in the rich glow of sunset, it is a setting which holds a depth of cherished memories for Bob MacIntyre. A smile illuminates his face as his mind wanders back to his days as a junior and his journey from the practice green at Glencruitten Golf Club in Oban to the pristinely manicured grounds of Augusta National.
He paints a picture that will be true of so many clubs across the country; school is out, the summer holidays are in full swing, and youngsters spend every minute of their day on the golf course.
Asked for his early memories of the Masters, the famous Tiger Woods chip-in from the back of the 16th green in 2005 provides an obvious reference point.
But, as he prepares for a second successive Masters appearance, when did MacIntyre himself first dream of pulling on the famous Green Jacket?
‘When I was hitting putts on the green at Glencruitten with my pals,’ says the 25-year-old Scot. ‘It would be a putt to win The Open, a putt to win the Masters.
‘But maybe the first time I really thought about it was at 15 or 16, when you realise you are decent and think it’s possible. So maybe 17, 18, 19-years-old, you think about how cool it would be to win it.
‘I have as much chance as anyone when I peg it up on Thursday and that’s the best thing about our sport.’
MacIntyre is in fine fettle as he prepares to return to Augusta. Engaging, honest and entertaining, an hour spent in conversation sees him cover plenty of ground.
He speaks openly about
If you have the drive and the backing, I believe you can do anything
having a former champion on speed-dial, competing at the top level, life in Oban, how Covid continues to affect his lifestyle, and how his mum’s baking continues to trouble his waistline.
MacIntyre produced an excellent display on his debut at the Masters last year to eventually finish in a tie for 12th place.
As he prepares to tackle Augusta for a second time, it is an early staging post of what could be an exceptional few months.
The 150th Open Championship on home soil at St Andrews is another obvious staging post in MacIntyre’s season.
The narrative of him being some sort of happy-go-lucky boy from Oban feels tired and outdated.
His talent has elevated the conversation around him to a higher level. He has now played in seven major championships and has yet to miss a cut.
But he is honest enough to reflect on where he has come from. With Augusta and St Andrews on the horizon, MacIntyre is entering a huge period.
‘I actually said before that if I ever played in one Open, it would be St Andrews,’ he explains.
‘Even if that was the only one I ever played, I could walk away happy knowing I had played it no matter how it goes.
‘And last year, I could have walked away from the game knowing I had played in all the big tournaments apart from The Ryder Cup.
‘From where I’ve come from, family, friends, school, everything… to think I’d be doing this at 24 or 25-years-old, I’d have laughed and said no chance.
‘People say you can’t do things coming from where we come from and whatnot. But if you have the drive and the backing from the people behind you, I believe you can do anything.’
After taking a few weeks off last month, MacIntyre has been back in action at the recent WGC Dell Match Play and comfortably made the cut in this week’s Valero Texas Open.
He feels refreshed and is more comfortable with life on the road than when he first ventured to America. He shares a house with his caddie Mike, his coach Davie, and his manager Iain Stoddart. MacIntyre’s parents also visit regularly.
But with the Masters now only a matter of days away, there have been sacrifices he has had to make with regards to
Covid. He refuses to put himself at risk. ‘We are trying to open up into normal life, but I don’t want to be ill for the Masters,’ he says.
‘There are some things the boys want to do and I’m like: “We can do that stuff after the Masters”.
‘But until it’s done, I’m not risking you guys coming back in here with Covid. Even going to a concert. ‘There are little things you can and can’t do, so it’s trying to be prepared. I put focus into this six weeks ago.
‘That’s when I am thinking: “Can I go to the pub for a few beers with my pals?” The answer is “no”.
‘For me, the Masters is the second biggest tournament after The Open. Driving into the place, how you are treated, how private the place is. ‘You don’t want to be ill for that week. You want to have your gun loaded and be ready to go.’
His mum, Carol (left), is a source of immense strength and comfort as and when she is able to attend tournaments. ‘I try to get my mum out there to cook,’ he explains. ‘It’s daft but if you look at all my top results, you can see where my mum’s been. It’s like being at home. It’s not even the meals, it’s the cakes! She’s brilliant at baking. I remember when she first arrived at Augusta last year.
‘On that first morning, we had to be at the course at eight o’clock. We were up at half-six and there were homemade cookies and blueberry friands on the table. I just can’t help myself.’
MacIntyre’s manager Stoddart laughs as he interjects, saying: ‘It’s a nightmare. I was trying to lose weight at the time. They told me I don’t need to eat them but it was like Tom & Jerry with the apple pie on the windowsill!’
MacIntyre’s debut at Augusta last year saw him strike up a friendship with former Masters champion Patrick Reed and they played a practice round together.
Reed has been a divisive figure at times, not least to Scottish golf fans when he infamously ‘shushed’ the crowds at Gleneagles in the Ryder Cup in 2014.
But MacIntyre has nothing but good things to say about the 2018 winner — and having a former champion’s knowledge to tap into has obvious benefits.
‘I’ve got on absolutely magic with him,’ says the Scot. ‘It’s about gaining these guys’ respect.
‘I did that in Turkey during my first year on tour. I played with Patrick and Nacho Elvira and I shot nine under, Patrick shot eight and Nacho shot seven.
‘I think that was when they thought: “Who is that?” They realised you are not just there to make up the numbers.
‘I got the respect there, and then every time I came to America and I’d lost a bit of weight, Patrick would crack jokes.
‘He still does — and he still calls me certain names! That’s great for making you feel comfortable.
‘I got his number after a while and messaged him for some advice. If I want to ask him anything, he just says “message me” and he’ll give me as much advice as he can.
‘For Augusta last year, he did so much. For example, halfway down the ninth fairway he stopped Mike (MacIntyre’s caddie) and he was putting a dot on every hole where the ball runs to.
‘Mike turned to me and said: “You know what? He didn’t need to do that”. And he didn’t. He could have left us wondering where the ball was going to run.
‘But Mike handed him the book and he did it for us. It shows the guy has respect for you and I’ve got the utmost respect for him.’
With the suggestion that Woods could yet make an astonishing return from injury to play this week, MacIntyre added: ‘He’s almost superhuman.
‘For me, he’s created the world of golf we’re playing in now — the prize money, the way tournaments are set up.
‘I think it would be the greatest thing to ever happen in sport if he was to come back and win this one.’