Bob MacIntyre secured his first victory on the PGA Tour simply 5 months into his first full season look on the topflight US circuit after successful the Canadian Open in effective type – and together with his dad available to hold out caddying duties.
The 27-year-old Scot, who had solely admitted final month that he was struggling to deal with the calls for of being away from residence and his pals for such lengthy intervals, determined to ask his father, Dougie, a part-time greenkeeper in Scotland, to take over bag duties this week with a view to give him a carry after discovering life on tour powerful going regardless of placing in some first rate performances, together with an eighth place end eventually month’s PGA Championship.
DAD ON THE BAG DOES THE TRICK
And the choice to provide the bag to dad proved to be an impressed one, with MacIntyre Jnr placing in a championship-winning efficiency, together with his 16-under-par complete being adequate for a one-shot win over American Ben Griffin.
Holding a five-shot lead with seven holes to play, that comfy benefit was whittled away by the chasing pack, which additionally included Rory McIlroy, who closed with a 64, however MacIntyre, an unbeaten debutant eventually yr’s Ryder Cup, confirmed nice psychological energy down the stretch to carry off all-comers, with the left-hander firing a closing two-under 68 to maintain his head in entrance at Hamilton Golf & Nation Membership and safe a $1.6m payday – the largest of his profession.
“I had a hell of a combat in me,” he mentioned. “I’ve been working actually exhausting on the psychological facet of the sport as a result of as soon as we picked aside my recreation of golf, we realised that my golf isn’t the issue, I’m the issue. I’ve labored exhausting at that with my crew, and it has in all probability paid off over the past 4 or 5 weeks.”
Requested what he may do with the good-looking reward, Macintyre mentioned he would use a few of it to repay his dad and mom’ mortgage as a small token in recognising the large half they performed in getting him thus far in his profession.
“I couldn’t play in golf tournaments as a junior as a result of we couldn’t afford it,” MacIntyre mirrored. “I feel that made me. That makes me combat and by no means hand over. My dad and mom gave me the chance, however by no means was I spoon fed, I used to be all the time combating for each little bit of it.”
“Dad’s going to get a pleasant pay try of it. I feel I’ve obtained to eliminate some cash simply now for tax causes, however he’ll do properly out of it. He deserves it. My mum and pa might be mortgage-free now, and life’s trying slightly bit higher on that facet of issues for them.”
TEARS FLOWED ON THE 18TH
With each participant and caddie in tears on the 18th inexperienced, post-match interviews have been emotionally-filled affairs.
“He was a caddie for the week, however on the finish of the day, he’s my dad,” MacIntyre added. “He simply needs me to do effectively as a result of I’m his son, and there’s no angles to it, there’s nothing. The emotion on the finish, it was simply nearly out of sheer disbelief that we did it with him on the bag. It simply exhibits that I can compete on the prime stage. I all the time knew I may, however till you do it, you actually don’t know.”
And a pep speak by his dad proved very important in his win, with MacIntyre revealing: “He was having a wee go at me once I was strolling from the tenth tee all the way down to the golf green. Look, he was a sporting man, he is aware of find out how to win, is aware of find out how to lose, he’s been by all of it.”
Victory additionally earned MacIntyre a spot in subsequent week’s Memorial Match – which he plans on skipping with a view to rejoice with household and pals again at residence in Oban – in addition to a spot within the following week’s US Open at Pinehurst, which will get beneath means on June 13.
