Bob MacIntyre laughs off 'Oh-ban' announcement after solid start in Bahamas

Bob MacIntyre laughed off being announced on the tee as coming from “Oh-ban, Scotland” after making a bogey-free start on his debut in the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.

Playing with fellow left-hander Akshay Bhatia, the 28-year-old carded a four-under-par 68 to sit joint-eighth, four shots behind pacesetter Cameron Young, in the Tiger Woods-hosted event at Albany Golf Course.

Bob MacIntyre and caddie Mike Burrow pictured during the first round of the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas | Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

“It was a decent effort,” said MacIntyre of his day’s work, having picked up shots at the seventh, tenth, 12th and 15th holes before making good par saves at both the 16th and 18th.

“Tee to green was as good as it's kind of been. Driving it unbelievable, iron play's been really nice. If anything, just need to work on the short game.”

In almost flat-calm conditions after playing his practice round in strong winds, MacIntyre was disappointed that he only made one of his birdies at a par 5 and felt particularly sore about having to settle for a par from just short of the green at the sixth.

“You want to make your score on the par 5s and today we were one under for them, which is not great, but it could be five under tomorrow,” he added.

As for how his beloved home town had been announced on the first tee, the RBC Canadian Open and Genesis Scottish Open champion said it’s something he’s got used to on the PGA Tour this year.

“They ask me before I go off if it’s ‘Oh-ban, Scotland’ and I don’t even try and get into it,” he said with a smile. “I let it go and say ‘yes’ because it is close. Everyone knows the whisky, so I let them run with it.”

In the tussle between the two lefties, Bhatia earned the bragging rights on this particular day as the Valero Texas Open winner pipped his playing partner by a shot.

“It was good,” said MacIntyre of being paired with Bhatia, with the pair being almost identical in terms of length off the tee from start to finish.

“It is always good to play with someone who has somewhat the same attitude as you. And, when he is not hitting a shot, Akshay is very chilled out. He’s a good guy.”

Young, who picked up five shots in the first eight holes, leads from two-time US PGA champion Justin Thomas, with defending champion and world No 1 Scottie Scheffler among five players a further shot back.