Bob MacIntyre reveals what makes him dangerous on PGA Tour as he continues fine form at Myrtle Beach Classic

Scot backs up opening 64 with equally-pleasing 67 to sit one shot off the lead in Myrtle Beach Classic

Bob MacIntyre has found his feet on the PGA Tour and it’s made him think that Oban rather than Orlando should be his base going forward on the US circuit. After adding a 67 to his opening 64 for an 11-under-par total, the 27-year-old sits one shot off the lead in the inaugural Myrtle Beach Classic at The Dunes Golf and Beach Club in South Carolina.

“I think it's been really good,” said MacIntyre of his work on the opening two days in a $4 million event that is being played at the same time as the Wells Fargo Championship, one of the circuit’s signature events, is being held at Quail Hollow in North Carolina. “I think it's difficult to back up a good round yesterday. Felt like I did that really well.”

MacIntyre held the clubhouse lead until American Chris Gotterup finished with four straight birdies to come home in 30 and sign for a 64, putting him in pole position for the first time in a PGA Tour event on 12 under. Spaniard Jorge Campillo is also in the mix on ten under adter a brace of 66s.

MacIntyre has enjoyed playing alongside Ryan Fox in South Carolina.

In the company of Kiwi Ryan Fox and Argentina’s Alejandro Tosti, the left-hander birdied the second from seven feet then rolled in a six-footer two holes later. He then made a third gain of the day from ten feet at the eighth before draining a 21-footer for a 2 at the ninth, where an even longer birdie putt had dropped in the opening circuit. A dropped shot at the 14th was quickly repaired by an up and down from 43 yards at the par-5 15th before an 11-footer saved par at the last.

“The front nine was absolutely pretty much flawless golf,” he added. “Missed a few chances. But, when you keep giving yourself lots of chances, you're going to take some. Overall a good round today and a good one yesterday.” It’s been a breezy test so far and MacIntyre likes that. The golf course needs a bit of breeze, and I think it's a good test when it comes up,” he said. “I like to shape the ball. Off the tees, there's some funnels you've got to play it through.”

It’s been a difficult start for the 2023 Ryder Cup player as a full-time PGA Tour card holder after being among ten players to secure that status through last season’s DP World Tour Race to Dubai. He finished sixth in the Mexico Open in February before teaming up with Belgian Thomas Detry to share eighth spot behind Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry in the recent Zurich Classic of New Orleans, but six missed cuts in 12 starts wasn’t what he’d been looking for.

“I mean, I'm trying to keep my card out here,” he replied to being asked if he felt committed to playing on the US circuit. “It's not easy. I've not had the greatest of starts or, after an alright start, I've not played the way I wanted to play. I want to be one of the best players in the world, so whatever I've got to play, I'll play, whether it's in the US, whether it's in Europe, whether it's further afield. It doesn't faze me. I'm used to travelling.”

Bob MacIntyre reacts on the second green during the second round of the Myrtle Beach Classic at Dunes Golf & Beach Club in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Picture: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images.

MacIntyre was asked if it had been a difficult decision to be crossing the Atlantic to play the bulk of his golf this year. “It wasn't,” he insisted. “The World Ranking points, the financial gain and the practice facilities, it can only benefit me if I play good golf. I can go back to the DP World Tour anytime I want. I've obviously got that grace period with the ten cards that we've got this year, and I've obviously got one in the back pocket from playing Ryder Cup. I'm comfortable. I'm just trying to become one of the best players in the world. I don't know what limit I've got in golf. I don't know where my limit is. I'm just trying my best every day to accept what score I get and work harder.”

MacIntyre has been based in Orlando when he’s not been playing in events, but a recent trip home may have led to a rethink about that. “No, it's not a permanent home,” he said of that Florida base. “It's a trial period. We're trying to test out where home is going to be. Renting a place in Orlando, practicing out of Isleworth. The facilities are absolutely incredible. I thought that moving to the US was the only way of achieving my dreams in golf. I don't know if that's the answer. I feel like a happy Bob MacIntyre is a dangerous Bob MacIntyre on the golf course, and home life makes me happy. That's why I'm probably going to go home after the next couple events. I'll go home to Scotland rather than go to Orlando.”

He’d spoken earlier the week about finding his new working environment a “lonely place” and it seemed no coincidence that his best golf so far this year came in the company of a friendly face in former Dunhill Links champion Fox. “Look, I'm from a small town on the west coast of Scotland,” he told an American inquisitor. “A lot of people never leave Oban. They go on holidays and stuff, but they're born there, they work there, they ultimately die there. My whole family and friends are there. They're probably always going to be there.

“It's just difficult when I come over here, me and my girlfriend. We're trying to make it home, and it's difficult when you've not got that family connection. We're giving it our best shot, but it's completely different to home life. Obviously I got home there for three weeks and managed to have somewhat of a normal life for three weeks. I've come back out this stretch, obviously had a good week with Thomas Detry in New Orleans a fortnight ago, was just mad scoring, and then this week, to be honest, I'm just in a good mind frame going into these few weeks.”

Martin Laird agonisingly missed the cut after a second-day 72 left him one short of making it to the weekend on one under, with Russell Knox (73) also bowing out early on three over.

Meanwhile, 2022 Genesis Scottish Open champion Xander Schauffele (64-67) holds a four-shot lead over Rory McIlroy, the current holder of that title, as well as former world No 1 Jason Day at the halfway stage in the Wells Fargo Championship.