Bob MacIntyre lifts lid on Oban Celtic's new fanbase, why cash was involved and 'unbelievable' Thomas Detry

Oban Celtic has a new fanbase in the US thanks to Bob MacIntyre, who still loves turning out for his beloved home-town team even though he’s now a world’s top-15 golfer, literally showing off his shinty colours at golf’s rowdiest hole.

As the Scot tackled the par-3 16th hole on the Stadium Course TPC Scottsdale during last week’s WM Phoenix Open on the PGA Tour, he not only wore an Oban Celtic shirt himself but, on his way from the tee to the green, also threw a few into the raucous crowd.

The tops, all of which had number ‘16’ on the back, had been carefully made into a bundle and tied with a rubber band around each one was a $20 bill and a signed note that read: “Get yourself a couple of beers. Cheers, B Mac.”

Bob MacIntyre throws a bundle containing an Oban Celtic top and a $20 note into the crowd at TPC Scottsdale | Getty Images

Few Americans, of course, will even know what shinty is and the US, as always, was gripped by Super Bowl fever last weekend ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles beating Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL title-decider New Orleans

However, it was a brilliant PR exercise by MacIntyre and, as he was pleased to report before turning his attention to playing in Thursday’s first round of the Genesis Invitational in San Diego, it has led to a welcome spin-off for his beloved team.

“Aye, they are,” he replied with a huge smile to being asked if his friends back in Oban had been loving the publicity for the team, which is managed by his dad, Dougie. “They’ve actually had a few sales on the shirts and I think they are delighted about that. I think it will pay for the mini bus for a few months!”

MacIntyre, who, admittedly, has cut back on his shinty appearances since making his Ryder Cup debut in 2023, had come up with the shirt idea ahead of last year’s event but then didn’t get into it until late on, which meant they were still in Scotland as he experienced the unique tournament for the first time.

But, having known since making his PGA Tour breakthrough by winning the RBC Canadian Open last June then backing that up with a stunning success in the Genesis Open a few weeks later that he’d definitely be in the field this time around, they’d been packed for his latest trip across the Atlantic.

“It was absolutely brilliant,” he said of the 16th hole, where around 16,000 fans are housed in triple-decker stands and suites. “I think there is a place for that in the game of golf. Obviously not every week. You don’t want that every week because it is carnage - that’s the only word for it.

“But I absolutely loved it and, for me, there are two things with that environment. You can either hide from it or you can meet it head on and I am one of those guys who tries to meet these things head on and have a bit of fun with it.

“They are having fun at me and laughing at me if I hit a bad shot, so I am thinking ‘well, I might as well bring some attention to myself and just embrace it’. And that’s what I tried to do.

Bob MacIntyre wore an Oban Celtic shinty top when playing the 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale in the WM Phoenix Open | Getty Images

“I thought it went down well. It was an Oban Celtic shinty shirt, obviously the shinty team I play for, and the No 16 for the hole was on every shirt I threw out. Yeah, I just put a few dollars in the bundle as well for them to get a beer and get a wee bit louder.

“I think we threw away 18 or 19 shirts and everyone had money and a note on it. When they got the shirt, they were probably like ‘what the hell is this?’ and found it was $20 and hopefully started to think ‘fair play’.

“It was nothing other than just having a bit of fun with the crowd, getting them on your side in some way and trying to embrace it because it is an absolutely brilliant event.”

It was won on this occasion by Thomas Detry, with MacIntyre, having teamed up with him in last year’s Zurich Classic, showing his class by being at the side of the 18th green along with Matt Wallace as the Belgian landed his maiden PGA Tour victory.

“It is absolutely brilliant and delighted for him,” said MacIntyre of Detry’s seven-shot success. “I didn’t really know Tom until I played the Zurich with him. Mike, who caddies for me now, set that up for us and since then we’ve become close. My girlfriend and his wife have also been close ever since.

“Tom has been an unbelievable player for years and he’s come close, just not quite getting over the line. Wow, he bulldozed over the line and I just thought out of respect - I was there and not rushing away - that it was the done thing. European guys stick together!”

It seems likely that MacIntyre and Detry will join forces again in the Zurich Classic later in the season and, having seemed to click as they tied for eighth behind Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry last year, European captain Luke Donald could certainly be given some food for thought if they both then make the Ryder Cup team at Bethpage Black in September.

Both now winners on the PGA Tour, Thomas Detry and Bob MacIntyre teamed up in last year’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans at TPC Louisiana and are likely to do so again this year | Chris Graythen/Getty Images

“One hundred per cent,” replied MacIntyre to being asked if he saw Detry as a possible Ryder Cup team-mate on this occasion. “What a golfer he is. But you don’t know what his goals are, his ambitions are, what he wants to do.

“But I want to be on that team at Bethpage and I am starting to build up the points and move up the rankings. Yeah, I am trying my best to get there, but there’s a lot that goes into that first before I can get to Bethpage.”

Three of the last four events on the PGA Tour have fallen to European players, with Detry’s win coming after Sepp Straka landed The American Express then McIlroy came out on top in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. “I think it is brilliant,” observed MacIntyre of the Europeans enjoying a fine run of form on the US circuit. “It is very obvious to see that it has been at a high standard for a few years now.

“Yeah, it doesn’t surprise me, to be honest with you, when you look at the strength and depth of the European guys out here and I just think it is good for European golf and the DP World Tour to see the progression. I mean, Tom has done it the exact same way I’ve done it. From Challenge Tour to DP World Tour to PGA Tour on a world stage. I think it’s brilliant to see the pathway work.”

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MacIntyre, who described the wet, windy and cold weather at Torrey Pines on Wednesday as being “more like Oban” than Southern California, has been pleased with his season so far, having made four cuts in four starts on the PGA Tour and also finishing in the top 20 in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. “It’s not been electric, but, overall, it’s been solid and we are just waiting for that something to happen,” he declared with a smile.